Domaine Jaeger Defaix Rully Rouge Premier Cru Clos du Chapitre

The Clos du Chapitre is a parcel entirely surrounded by a 2m high wall where the average vine age is 40 years. The soils are perfect for the cultivation of grapes with excellent aeration of the soil. A severe sorting is done when the grape arrives at the cellar followed by de-stemming. Maceration and fermentation is carried out with natural yeasts over approx 3 weeks. Aged in used French oak for 14 to 18 months usually with a little new oak thrown in to add complexity. 

This elegant Clos du Chapitre is a Burgundian style of Pinot Noir. Aromas of red and black fruit dominate the nose with cherry, plum, blackcurrant & strawberry in abundance. Fine, graceful tannins and a refreshing acidity on the palate make this a truly remarkable bottle of wine. Try with game, beef, chicken, pork dishes or aged cheeses. 

Hélène Jaeger-Defaix took over her first vineyard in Rully 1er cru Mont-Palais from her great-aunt, Henriette Niepce in October 2002, and runs the estate with the same organic cultivation philosophy as that of her husband’s Chablis domaine (Bernard Defaix). The family has a long history in the region, with Henri Niepce, the great-grandfather of Hélène contributing significantly to Rully gaining its AOC status in the 1930s, and helping to build its fame. Located in the Chalonnaise, only 100 hectares of Rully’s vineyards are classified as Premier Cru. Farming organically since 2009, the vines have an average age of at least 35 years. The grapes are hand-picked, and pressing is slow and gentle to extract the best juice, with modest handling to preserve the elegance of the wine.