2019 Dureuil-Janthial Rully Rouge en Guesnes ‘Wadana’ Vieilles Vignes,

’En Guesnes’ is made up of two distinct parcels, separated by premier cru ‘Meix Cadot.’ East-facing, the plot’s soils are rich in clay. The rough meaning of ‘guesnes’ in dialect is “source of water.” In ancient Galois speech, water was “wadana.” This wine is a selection of fruit from the oldest vines in ‘Guesnes,’ planted in 1950. Hand-harvested and hand-destemmed (leaving just the pedicel or berry stem intact). Cold maceration for a week; fermented on indigenous yeasts in open-top wooden fermenters. Aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels.
“Produced from a parcel planted in 1950, the 2019 Rully en Guesnes Vieilles Vignes was processed by hand, Dureuil’s team removing the clusters’ rachis by hand, retaining the berries attached to their pedicels à la Lalou Bize-Leroy…This is a brilliant wine that smashes the glass ceiling so often imposed on its appellation.” – William Kelley, Wine Advocate