Producer Profile
Domaine Jaeger-Defaix
Domaine Jaeger-Defaix is run by Helene Jaeger-Defaix, who took over her first vineyard in Rully in 2002. Their plots are entirely Premier Cru, and include Preaux – the most prestigious first cru in Rully.
Located in Cote Chalonnaise in the south of the Cote de Beaune, Rully is a vineyard of 330 hectares (220 white, 110 red). Helene’s ancestors plated a significant role in Rully achieving its AOC status in the 1930s.
Helene manages the estate entirely, farming organically since 2009. She runs her estate with the same cultivation philosophy as that of her husband’s domaine – Bernard Defaix.
They hand-pick all their grapes (all from vines of 35 years+), and have a philosophy of modest handling in the winery to preserve the elegance of the wine. Maceration and fermentation with natural yeast takes at least 2-3 weeks. The wines are then aged a further 18 months in oak barrels.
