Presentation
Located in Rully, in the Côte Chalonnaise, Domaine Jaeger-Defaix carries on the winemaking legacy of the Niepce family, growers since the 16th century. Founded in 2002 by Hélène Jaeger-Defaix, great-granddaughter of Henri Niepce, the estate specializes in white and red Rully Premier Crus. The vineyard includes several prestigious plots, notably Mont-Palais (white) and Préaux (red), all cultivated organically. Winemaking is low-intervention, favoring native yeast fermentations and careful ageing in oak barrels. The wines are distinguished by their elegance and balance, with precise, taut whites and silky reds with delicate tannins. A benchmark estate in Rully, blending tradition and modernity.
Location
The Préaux vineyard lies within the Rully Premier Cru appellation, on clay-limestone soils that lighten in color as the slope rises.
In the vineyard
Yields are strictly controlled through debudding to produce a refined and expressive wine. Manual work in the vineyard ensures optimal fruit quality.
Harvest
During harvest, rigorous sorting is carried out both in the vineyard and at the winery to retain only the finest grapes.
Winemaking
Fermentation lasts around two weeks with daily pump-overs to gently extract color and tannins. Native yeasts are used to preserve the identity of the terroir.
Ageing
The wine is aged in oak barrels (one-third new) for 15 to 18 months. A very light filtration is performed before bottling, so a natural deposit may appear.
Varietal
Pinot Noir : 100%
Serving
Serving Temperature 14 to 16°C
Ageing potential
3 to 5 years
Tasting
Deep ruby color. Fruity nose of cherry and raspberry. The palate is silky with beautiful length. A fine and elegant expression of Burgundy Pinot Noir.
Food pairings
This Rully Premier Cru Préaux red pairs beautifully with chicken tenders and sautéed potatoes. Its intense and expressive flavors also complement rump steak or veal roast in sauce.