Rully Rouge, L'Hermitage, Domaine Chanzy 2003

Rully sits in the southern reaches of the Côte Chalonnaise, a village that has long punched above its weight for value-conscious Burgundy lovers. Domaine Chanzy's L'Hermitage comes from a single vineyard site and is made in a style that leans into Pinot Noir's quieter, more contemplative register rather than its show-stopping side. The 2003 vintage — that legendary, scorching summer across France — adds an interesting wrinkle: this is a warmer, riper expression of Rully than you'd usually expect, with the fruit carrying a dried, almost confited edge alongside the more typical Côte Chalonnaise earthiness. At over twenty years old, we'd approach this with curiosity rather than expectation of fresh fruit. It's a wine for an intimate Tuesday dinner rather than a grand occasion, best enjoyed now before the fruit recedes further.