In 2002, Hélène Jaeger-Defaix reconnected with the earth of her ancestors in the Côte Chalonnaise when she took over a parcel from her great aunt: the premier cru Mont-Palais in Rully. Her great grandfather Henri Niepce worked for 30 years to give Rully an AOC and thus its great reputation. Today, the domaine spans 6 hectares and has expanded to include village appellations, the red Préaux premier cru and the white Rabourcé premier cru. It also boasts a monopole: Clos du Chapitre. Organically cultivated since 2009, soil work includes ridging and tilling to aerate the earth. No chemical inputs are used and the domaine relies only on small doses of sulphur and copper. Hélène Jaeger Defaix, who studied agronomy and oenology, works the vines with her husband Didier Defaix, a Chablis winemaker.

Round and charming, with its citrus fragrances and exotic notes, this Rully charms us right to the very end with its slender and fresh finish which is peppery, even mentholated. Its trump card? It shows wonderful acidity.