Domaine de la Vieille Fontaine 2007 Tasting Notes

Aligoté de Bouzeron 2004
Bourgogne rouge 2005
Rully blanc 2005

The spring of 2004 saw severe frosts in the Côte Chalonnaise, which burned many young buds on the vine.  Nobody would have predicted the unusually warm summer that followed and which ensured succulent ripeness of the surviving grapes in time for the harvest.  Our winemaker, David Déprés, was delighted with the near-perfect balance of fruit and acidity which this produced in our Aligoté de Bouzeron.  We bet you won’t be disappointed either.  Most Aligoté producers recommend that you add a little cassis to their wine to serve it as a Kir.  If you do this with your Bourgogne Aligoté you will deprive yourself of the delicate, citrussy flavours which make this a perfect aperitif, or a heavenly thirst-quencher on a hot summer’s day.  

From Bouzeron, join the D981 and continue south.  All along the right-hand side of the road you will see the Rully vineyards.  Look out for the signpost which indicates the right turn into the village and enter another corner of the world of rustic charm characteristic of this whole region.  The splendidly preserved, 13th- century Château de Rully dominates the landscape but so too do the serried ranks of vines, looking southwards, seeking the summer sunshine.   They certainly found it in 2005, the vintage from which both our Pinot Noir – Rully Bourgogne rouge – and our Chardonnay – Rully blanc St Jacques – come this year.

Light ruby in colour and delicately fruity, with hints of blackcurrants, damsons and prunes, the rouge will be a pleasingly light accompaniment to a wide range of dishes that are not strongly flavoured or spicy.  Try it with summer barbecues, English cheeses or, simply, moments of reflection.  There is a Heaven!

Maturing our Rully blanc in stainless steel tanks has developed those alluring flavours of exotic fruits and lemons which are masked when wine from the famous Chardonnay grape is oak-aged.   Try it with chicken, charcuterie or mild cheese – you will not be disappointed.