Domaine de Villaine is the personal estate of Aubert de Villaine, co-director and co-owner of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, and his wife Pamela. Established in the village of Bouzeron in the Cote Chalonnaise during the 1970s, the domaine has been run since 2009 by Aubert's nephew Pierre de Benoist, who has continued to raise quality across the range. The estate practices organic viticulture across its holdings in Bouzeron (for Aligote), Rully and Mercurey, applying the same rigorous viticultural standards that characterise DRC's approach to the Cote de Nuits.

Rully 1er Cru Rabource is among the newest premier cru additions to the domaine's range, with 2018 being the first vintage released from this site. Rabource is an amphitheatre-shaped vineyard on the northern section of Rully's appellated land, described by Pierre de Benoist as sitting at the warmest and highest point of the appellation and oriented away from its neighbours. The 2020 vintage was fermented and aged in new foudres (large oak barrels), contributing gentle complexity and texture while preserving the site's natural freshness. The resulting wine shows opulent aromas of white fruit, chalky notes, verbena and gentle toast.

The association of Rully premier cru production with Aubert de Villaine's estate automatically elevates market interest in these wines beyond what might otherwise attach to a Cote Chalonnaise appellation. The domaine's organic farming and the same philosophical commitment to terroir expression that characterises DRC have built a serious following among collectors who appreciate well-made, honest Burgundy from appellations that remain genuinely undervalued relative to the Cote d'Or.

Best from 2023 to 2030. Pair with grilled turbot, poached white fish, asparagus with hollandaise or mild goat's cheese. Serve at 12 degrees Celsius in a broad white Burgundy glass.

Bright gold with green tints. The nose is opulent and complex: white peach, apricot, chalky mineral, verbena and toasted brioche, with the generous character of the 2020 vintage clearly expressed. The palate is medium-to-full bodied and sappy with excellent power and persistence, finishing with warmth, mineral tension and very good length. Requires a few years to fully integrate.