Pascal Clément, Rully Blanc Cheap

Pascal Clément, Rully Blanc

Pascal grew up in the village of Savigny-les-Beaune in a family whose grape growing and winemaking history goes back many generations. His father established a successful maison, or negociant house, back in 1950 and young Pascal was eager to learn all things viticulture. After school he spent several years working and learning at various domaines, including the world famous Coche-Dury, before setting out on his own and creating a new micro-negociant label. Like many of Burgundy’s scrappy, talented young winemakers, Pascal does not own any vineyards (yet!) and so he works very closely with a small cadre of 15 handpicked growers who have excellent parcels in terroirs that span the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise. After harvest, the fruit is transported to Pascal’s historic little cellar, built in 1850, for fermentation and aging. The winemaking is gentle, with a non-interventionist approach, using only native yeasts and small additions of sulfur as necessary. Elevage is in a combination of 225 and 500 liter barrels, mostly older, and the goal for all the cuvées is pure, terroir transparency.

Sourced from several prime parcels in this village that is the jewel of the Côte Chalonnaise, Pascal ferments and ages this wine in 500 liter oak puncheons for 11 months, with zero battonage, before bottling with a very light filtration. Serve this elegant Chardonnay in a large Burgundy stem at around 50 degrees and you’ll be surprised at how much complexity and depth emerge from what is generally an overlooked appellation for White Burgundy. A brief decant will help unlock the full spectrum of aromas and flavors: White peach, yellow apple, honeysuckle, acacia, lemon peel, citrus blossoms, raw almonds, and hints of wild honey all surround a core of saline minerals and snappy acidity. Pair with your favorite shellfish, pan seared white fish, or herb roasted chicken. If you, like many of us, are constantly experiencing sticker shock when it comes to good White Burgundy, then excellent Rully from talented winemakers like Pascal Clément is your ticket to delicious, old-school Chardonnay with an old-school price to match!