2001 Jean-Marc Boillot Rully La Pucelle

Jean-Marc Boillot is a 27-acre domaine based in Pommard. Jean-Marc is part of a well-known and large winemaking family in Burgundy and in 1989 he inherited vineyards from his grandfather, which allowed him to start his own operation. Boillot makes both red and white wines, and Clive Coates has noted that “this is one of the very few quality domaines in Burgundy which is equally as important in Pinot Noir as Chardonnay…” The domaine includes a Grand Cru parcel in Batard-Montrachet, and Premier Crus in Beaune, Pommard, Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet. Boillot is also a negociant and owns a 42-acre domaine in Languedoc.

Rully is an appellation and commune that takes its name from the Roman town called Rubilia Vicus. Of the 882 acres of vineyards in the appellation, almost two-thirds of the vineyards are planted to white wine grapes. Rully produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but it is also known for its Champagne-style sparkling wines, known as Crémant de Bourgogne. Rully produced the first Crémant de Bourgogne in the late 19th century, well before any other region in Burgundy started making Champagne-style sparklers. Today the appellation produces nearly five million bottles of sparkling wine a year compared to two million bottles of still white wine. There are 23 Premier Cru vineyards in the Rully appellation, and no Grand Crus. Clive Coates has written that Rully’s white wines are “lemony-crisp and floral, ripe but lean rather than four-square.”

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.