Domaine Rijckaert produce wines of exceptional quality from small plots of vines in the Jura and Burgundy. Florent Rouve, who runs the estate today, studied forestry and agricultural engineering before going on to study oenology in Dijon. His Burgundian wines are from 4 hectares of land in the Maconnais, and his Jura wines are situated on clay-limestone soils, marl, and stony slopes on 5 hectares in the Arbois. Florent mainly focuses on Chardonnay though he also makes a small number of wines from Savagnin, from Pinot Noir and Trousseau.
The grapes are harvested by hand,and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wines are aged in a combination of stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels.
The Chardonnays display a beautiful balance of fruitiness and minerality, with flavours ranging from citrus and stone fruits to delicate floral notes. His use of oak is judicious and imparts a great depth.
We still have stocks of the following wines from the Domaine:
Vire Clesse Les Vercherres 2021 is finesse personified with bright acidity, and an effortless abundance of fruit. Custard apple and hints of honeyed richness with delicate veins of vanilla weave their way through.
Soil type: Small chert scree on clay from the early Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) era. There is a great variation in the limestone and fossilised deposits associated with the era.
Blended just after the grapes are pressed in September, hence the name, Rendezvous de Septembre 2021 reveals notes of sun-kissed orchard fruits with delicate hints of wildflowers, white peaches and ripe pears and a subtle kiss of oak.
Soil type: Limestone from the early and mid Bajocian period with layers of red clay of varying widths.
Rijckaert Bourgogne Blanc 2022 is vibrant. The acidity is perfectly balanced, providing a refreshing and lively mouthfeel. Ripe apple and juicy pear flavours dominate, followed by subtle hints of tropical fruit like mango and pineapple on the mid palate.
Soil type: Limestone from the middle and lower bajocian, with more or less red clay under the stones.
From a blend from different Chardonnay vineyards between the villages of Arbois and Villette Arbois Chardonnay 2021 exudes bright and crisp notes of citrus, with refreshing hints of lemon and grapefruit, and its lively acidity is beautifully balanced by subtle undertones of ripe pear and green apple.
Soil type: Grey marlstone from the early Bajocian era with limestone scree in the steepest areas.
All come in cases of 12
Get in touch with Ben, Gareth or Hélène if you are interested in any of these wines.
