The Chardonnay grape variety, originating from Burgundy but cultivated in the Jura since the 10th Century, has become a native of the region. Its great adaptability makes it the most prominent grape variety today, especially on limestone and light soils.
CÔTES DU JURA CHARDONNAY 2020
click on one of the vintages below for further information
Several generations have been necessary to patiently built one of the largest and greatest estates in the area, focused on key appellations such as Château-Chalon, l’Étoile and Arbois. The Domaine MAIRE & Fils covers nowadays 234 hectares of vines producing all the area grapes varieties.
In order to develop a harmonious cuvée, our Côtes du Jura comes from a selection of our best plots. The Chardonnay grow on clay limestone soils.
The work in the vines, is based on the respect of the nature and the soil. For young vines, located on steep slopes, to avoid erosion, we cultivate a row out of two, practice soil reassembly to aerate the lands subjected to settlement due to moisture, and grass with plants. Such as clover, which, by competing on the vine, can modulate its mineral and water supply and control its vigor and yield. The Guyot double size is necessary for the Chardonnay to better control its performance. The restructuring of the vines contributes to the harmony of our cuvée: the young vines bring the exuberance, the freshness and the acidity. While the older specimens bring the structure and character.
Reception of the grapes, vatting by gravity into a thermo-regulated tank for the fermentation.
They are pressed, and musts are settling under control temperature.
Then the fermentation starts, maintained at low temperature (20- 22°C). Ageing in stainless steel tanks, on fine lees and for 2 -3 months to aid the preservation of the wine's minerality, purity of fruit and crisp acidity.
They are pressed, and musts are settling under control temperature.
Then the fermentation starts, maintained at low temperature (20- 22°C). Ageing in stainless steel tanks, on fine lees and for 2 -3 months to aid the preservation of the wine's minerality, purity of fruit and crisp acidity.
The current public health crisis has certainly marked this year’s harvest, which nonetheless has been able to go ahead!
We were slightly less affected in the Jura vineyards, by drought than other regions thanks to rain during the month of August. One of the main challenges with this very early harvest was to achieve both optimal ripeness and balance.
Harvest was spread over a month on this estate, which has 234 ha (578.22 ac) in production this year. The harvest was good thanks to the replanting and reorganizing carried out in the vineyard over the last five years.
Initial tastings, Jacques Hauller:
‘The Jura, now more than ever, can lay claim to being the sixth sub-region of Burgundy! It boasts citrusy Chardonnays with a distinct mineral quality despite the very ripe state of the grapes and fruity Pinot Noirs with ripe tannins.
Careful plot selection reveals the potential of our Vignes aux Anes Trousseau; Vignes de Sorbief Savagnin and Chardonnay; a new gem like the delicate, elegant Pinot Noir in Arbois-Pupillin in the locality called ‘La Ronde’, which has been planted alongside the largely-forgotten native variety, Petit Béclan, which produces lively, light red wines which are great for blending purposes; and last but not least, carefully-selected Chardonnay from the vines at Grange Grillard.’