Read More...

Felix Debavelaere, winemaker of Domaine Rois Mages in Rully, has really impressed us in his approach of winemaking, and with his unique vineyard terroir, part of the Southern part of Burgundy. Included in the Cote Chalonnaise, Rully is part of the lesser-known appellations worldwide, however it's history is there and was one of the oldest winemaking regions with the helps of the monks of the nearby Abbeye in Dijon. Rully is now an appellation really talked about in the industry as their terroirs are very distinctives making unique wines, part of it is the unusual vineyards elevation, as well as the iconic soils built of clay - limestone with a very rocky dominance. Domaine Rois Mages, established in 1984 by Felix's mother Anne-Sophie, family native of the region they were well aware of the importance of the soils in Rully, the Domaine puts a real accent on vinifying each parcel seperately as their soils and elevation make them each unique. Felix has now 11 hectares with some of the 'climats' known in Rully: Les Cailloux, Moulin a Vent, Plante Moraine.

The delicacy of these Rully wines, can compete with the nearby notorious appellations of Chassagne Montrachet or Puligny. Felix came on board in 2009, after making his own way and worked in different wineries around the world, he even took a journey in his winemaking career in Margaret River, Australia. His approach to winemaking is minimal intervention, using indigenous yeast with long cool barrels ferments trying to extract the terroirs characteristics with a good fruit purity. It doesn't stop there, in the vineyard, Felix works in lutte raisonee as he truly believes in working with a respect of the land. During our last visit at the Domaine, we were impressed by the beautiful vaulted cellar in the Rully hillside in 1850 which the family purchased from an ex-champenois producer, allowing them to give time to the wines.