Rully, Paul et Marie Jacqueson 2018

Review

This is a truly elegant Rully for Bourgogne Blanc lovers. The  nearly 70 year old Chardonnay vines for this bottling are grown on a 50/50 mix of limestone and clay giving them balance and intensity. Everything is hand-harvested, destemmed, then gently pressed, before aging in about 20% new French oak. The nose has a delicate mix of fresh herbs, ripe yellow apple, and crushed rock, with the faintest hint of oak. On the palate the wine is bright, focused, and linear with the intense minerality carrying it through and the oak adding just enough softness and texture to round it out.

Michelle DeWynaert

The Producer

Domaine Jacqueson consists now of 18 hectares of vines, mostly in Rully, but also 5 in Mercurey and some in Bouzeron. The grapes are harvested by hand and vinified in classical fashion, before an élevage in barrel (up to 25% new wood). Under Paul, and now by his children, Marie and Pierre, the domaine has become adept at a sophisticated use of barrels, the élevage here is key to the quality they consistently achieve, and this rubs off on the négociant 'Cuvée Sélection' which is always beautifully finished.

As usual the élevage in barrel here is extremely precise and delicately done with around 20% new wood, the Premiers Crus getting barrels with a little more toast.

With white wines whose reputation is well established, the domain is part of the "stars" of the Côte Chalonnaise.

Paul Jacqueson is one of several tenants who have helped to change the image of the wines of the Côte Chalonnaise. Arriving on the family domain established in 1947, he first replants plots which were aligoté in chardonnay white grape. More than 60 years after, Rully gained notoriety thanks to white wines that rival those of the Côte de Beaune.

Today, Marie Jacqueson joined his father on the domain. Together they work 12 hectares of vines, mainly on Rully appellation, but also Mercurey Bouzeron. All plots are grown in pest management.

The white wines produced by the domain in the majority, are aged in oak barrels for 10 to 12 months, so that they are expressive in their early years.