Domaine de Villaine - Rully 1er Cru - Grésigny 2023
The Domaine A. & P. de Villaine, located in Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise, is one of the historic references of southern Burgundy. Founded by Aubert and Pamela de Villaine, then entrusted to Pierre de Benoist, the estate has established itself through demanding viticulture, certified organic, and a constant pursuit of accuracy in expressing the terroirs. The Rully 1er Cru Grésigny 2023 comes from one of the best climats of the appellation, located southwest of Rully, on a limestone vein that extends that of the Margotés. This very old Chardonnay vine, about 80 years old, naturally produces moderate yields and a matter of great depth. The name “Grésigny” evokes in old Burgundian speech a small steep hillside, highlighting the slope and uniqueness of the place. This cuvée, produced for the first time by the estate in 2012, embodies a highly precise white Rully, both elegant, mineral, and deeply Burgundian.
The 2023 vintage delivers here a subtle and luminous expression of Chardonnay, with a nose initially discreet, then delicately open on peach, apricot, ripe white fruits, and a fine limestone dimension. The estate describes an almost tactile sensation, where the flesh of the fruit gives way to an impression of pit, salivating and persistent. On the palate, the wine is ample without heaviness, supported by remarkable sapidity and a very present chalky framework. The maturity of the vintage brings flesh, while the terroir maintains a saline tension and great overall freshness. Nuances of almond, candied lemon, acacia honey, and wet stone may accompany the aromatic evolution. The long and mineral finish confirms Grésigny's status among the great whites of Rully.
Served around 10 to 12°C, this Rully 1er Cru Grésigny 2023 will ideally accompany noble fish, crustaceans, Bresse poultry with cream, seared scallops, or gourmet cuisine with delicate sauces. Its depth also allows it to stand up to more structured pairings, such as mushroom risotto, turbot with beurre blanc, or aged pressed cheeses. Already charming in its youth by its purity and brightness, it also has real aging potential, able to evolve over about ten years or more under good conditions. Over time, it will gain complexity, developing more honeyed, toasted, and stony notes. This Grésigny 2023 perfectly illustrates Domaine de Villaine's ability to reveal the great terroirs of the Côte Chalonnaise with a precision worthy of the finest whites of Burgundy. It is a rare, elegant, and deeply mineral cuvée, intended for lovers of elegant Chardonnays and terroir wines.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
