Chardonnay
75cl * Organic * 13.5% * Burgundy, France
Domaine Belleville was founded in Rully at the beginning of the 20th century in the heart of wine-making Burgundy. From ‘home’ vineyards they produce a limited quantity of Premier Cru 'Chapitre’ Rully in the Cote Chalonnaise. Rather than blending from across his 20 Premier Cru plots, Christian Belleville - something of a rising star in Rully - makes 20 different wines to allow each site to express its unique identity. This site belonged to the well-known Chapter of the Saint-Vincent de Chalon Cathedral, a college of clerics who observe monastic rules and live near the Cathedral.
Grapes are selected from mid-slope, 45-year-old vines and more extensive de-budding (the removal of excess shoots) takes place that leads to a more elegant and pure result. Slow and full fermentation takes place in large oak casks at low temperatures. The wine is then matured in oak casks for a period of 10-18 months with the proportion of oak used varying depending on the vintage to balance the minerality from the clay-limestone soil. The lees are stirred in the barrel to encourage body and freshness.
Bright gold robe with tints of green, there are aromas of ripe and stewed white fruits, with a touch of toasted bread. This is a round, medium-bodied wine with bright citrus and orchard fruit flavours complimented by a little butter, cream and vanilla from the oak. A long, slightly saline aftertaste meaning it pairs beautifully with cooked fish and seafood.