In the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise, Domaine Dureuil-Janthial has established itself as an essential benchmark for any lover of great Burgundy wines. Led with exemplary passion and precision by Vincent Dureuil and his wife Céline, the estate embodies the perfect balance between ancestral heritage and a high level of modern technical excellence. Named Winemaker of the Year in 2019 by La Revue du Vin de France, Vincent Dureuil has elevated the Rully appellation to a level comparable with the most prestigious crus of the Côte d’Or.
The history of the estate dates back to the 18th century, when the Janthial family settled in Rully. This family continuity is a major asset, allowing the domaine today to cultivate parcels of very old vines, some of which were planted as early as 1920 by Vincent’s great-grandfather. Vincent took over the estate in 1994 at the age of 24, succeeding his father Raymond, who had already initiated a remarkable commitment to quality.
The vineyard holdings extend over approximately twenty hectares, the majority of which lie within the Rully and Mercurey appellations in the Côte Chalonnaise. This core is complemented by three hectares of prized parcels located in the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, notably in Puligny-Montrachet and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The predominantly clay-limestone soils provide a diverse geological tapestry that the domaine strives to preserve. The region’s noble grape varieties, Chardonnay for whites and Pinot Noir for reds, express themselves here in nuanced ways depending on altitude and exposure, across lieux-dits such as Le Meix Cadot, Les Margotés and Grésigny.
The estate’s viticultural philosophy is rooted in absolute respect for the ecosystem. Organic farming has been practiced since the mid-2000s, with official certification obtained between 2009 and 2016. Following a difficult climatic episode that required a one-off synthetic treatment in 2016, the estate resumed the certification process and has once again been officially certified organic from the 2021 vintage onward. Vineyard work is carried out with meticulous attention to detail: regular ploughing to aerate the soils, Guyot or Guyot-Poussard pruning to respect sap flow, and strict debudding to control yields. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, allowing for rigorous sorting directly in the vineyard to retain only perfectly ripe fruit.
For the white wines, the winemaking approach aims to capture the tension and mineral brightness of Chardonnay. Grapes are pressed as whole clusters without crushing, followed by a static settling period of twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Fermentation is carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts in oak barrels, of which approximately 20% to 25% are new, sourced predominantly from Chassin cooperage. The wines are aged for twelve months in barrel, followed by six months in stainless steel tanks to refine their structure. Racking and bottling are conducted in strict accordance with the lunar calendar, and fining and filtration are avoided in order to preserve the wines’ aromatic integrity.
Red winemaking follows a philosophy of finesse and fruit preservation. After passing over two sorting tables, the Pinot Noir grapes are generally destemmed, although whole-cluster fermentation may be used depending on the character of the vintage. A one-week cold maceration precedes fermentation, allowing for gentle extraction of color and tannins. Aging takes place in oak barrels, with around one-third new oak, for twelve months, followed by a resting period in stainless steel tanks.
The Dureuil-Janthial style is defined by a constant pursuit of purity and verticality. The whites stand out for their vibrant attack, textured palate and saline finish, often evoking the nobility of the great crus of the Côte de Beaune. The reds shine through their tannic elegance and generous fruit, while retaining a structure capable of ageing for decades. Single-parcel cuvées such as Rully Premier Cru Le Meix Cadot Vieilles Vignes and Grésigny have become highly sought-after references among discerning enthusiasts.
