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2021 Rully Blanc 1er Cru
Domaine de Villaine
When the universe sends harsh weather your way, what do you do? If you’re Pierre de Benoist, you make a pure and remarkably aromatic Chardonnay. Hailstorms destroyed much of the 2021 crop. So instead of producing six separate premier cru bottlings, he blended them together into a single cuvée, balancing each parcel’s unique character in a delicate harmony. Ripe pear plays against tart lemon curd, while the richness of the fruit contrasts with the well-defined mineral structure. A refined bitterness punctuates the long, elegant finish, promising that this blanc can be enjoyed for years to come. But you should open a bottle today; it absolutely dazzles now, so don’t miss this rare offering from Domaine de Villaine.
—Meghan Foley
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chardonnay |
Appellation: | Rully |
Country: | France |
Region: | Burgundy |
Producer: | Domaine A. & P. de Villaine |
Winemaker: | Pierre de Benoist |
Vineyard: | 10-85 years |
Soil: | Clay, limestone with sand, marl, and silt |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

2020 Rully Blanc 1er Cru “Cloux”
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2020 Rully Blanc 1er Cru “Rabourcé”
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2022 Rully Blanc “Les Saint-Jacques”
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2020 Rully Rouge 1er Cru “Les Champs Cloux”
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Les Champs Cloux fresh, with good acidity, but also among the domaine’s more robust reds.

2022 Mercurey Rouge “Les Montots”
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It is easy to forget that it isn’t a premier cru

2022 Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Rouge “La Fortune”
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This rouge is so silky and aromatic, reminiscent of strawberries and cherries. Open it over the next five years to fully enjoy its bright, fresh character.

2020 Rully Rouge 1er Cru “Cloux”
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Vigneron Pierre de Benoist thinks the Cloux vineyard is arguably the best parcel for Pinot Noir in Rully.

2021 Bourgogne Rouge
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Produced exclusively in the 2021 vintage due to low yields, this Bourgogne is made from the terroirs of Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise La Fortune and La Digoine, Mercurey Les Montots and Santenay Rouge 1er Cru Passetemps.

2020 Rully Blanc 1er Cru “Les Margotés”
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Evoking fresh orchard fruit, white flowers, and chalk, Les Margotés is remarkably pure and will continue to age beautifully over 10-15 years.

2022 Bouzeron Aligoté
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Aligoté may actually be an even more precise conduit for Burgundian terroir than Chardonnay.
About The Producer
Domaine A. & P. de Villaine
About The Region
Burgundy
In eastern central France, Burgundy is nestled between the wine regions of Champagne to the north, the Jura to the east, the Loire to the west, and the Rhône to the south. This is the terroir par excellence for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The southeast-facing hillside between Dijon in the north and Maranges in the south is known as the Côte d’Or or “golden slope.” The Côte d’Or comprises two main sections, both composed of limestone and clay soils: the Côte de Nuits in the northern sector, and the Côte de Beaune in the south. Both areas produce magnificent whites and reds, although the Côte de Beaune produces more white wine and the Côte de Nuits more red.
Chablis is Burgundy’s northern outpost, known for its flinty and age-worthy Chardonnays planted in Kimmeridgian limestone on an ancient seabed. Vézelay is a smaller area south of Chablis with similar qualities, although the limestone there is not Kimmeridgian.
To the south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise extends from Chagny on its northern end, down past Chalon-sur-Saône and encompasses the appellations of Bouzeron in the north, followed by Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny.
Directly south of the Chalonnaise begins the Côte Mâconnais, which extends south past Mâcon to the hamlets of Fuissé, Vinzelles, Chaintré, and Saint-Véran. The Mâconnais is prime Chardonnay country and contains an incredible diversity of soils.
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211