Leflaive & Associes Rully Premer Cru 2018
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The grapes hail from 2 parcels of 1er Cru vineyards in Rully, where the vines are planted upon calcareous clay and their age ranges from 30-70 years old. This wine is made with the same winemaking methods that have brought Domaine Leflaive the respect and reputation they have been cherished for years after years.
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The 2018 Rully 1er Cru needs quite a bit of air to find its focus, which is rather surprising for a wine at this level, and something I imagine most readers would not expect. Initially rather clunky, the 2018 opens to reveal layers of citrus, chalk and floral notes, all buttressed by bright acids. The 2018 finds its stride only after having been opened for a few hours.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Exclusive for its bright and charming whites, Rully is optimally situated in the northern part of the Côte Chalonnaise where light and sandy soils create fresh Chardonnays. Here they have perfumes redolent of acacia or honeysuckle, with bright peach and lemon flavors and a flinty finish. With time, Rully whites evolve to fuller flavors of honey, quince and dried apricot.
Rully is also one of the best sources of premium sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne and while over two-thirds of Rully’s production is white grapes, its reds are also worth seeking out, especially as an introduction to Burgundy Pinot Noir. Rully reds express pleasant aromas of rose, licorice and have ripe, red cherry fruit on the palate. Grésigny, Rabourcé, and Les Cloux are its most popular Premiers Crus.