Typical of the Jura region, the Savagnin is a demanding and patient grape, very often associated with oxidative ageing under a film of yeast known as the “voile”, or veil.
But its less well-known mineral facet has to be discovered!
CÔTES DU JURA SAVAGNIN BLANC 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.
Far away from the oxidative wines with which the Savagnin grape variety is generally associated, this Côtes du Jura is a wine of great freshness, with lovely, airy white flowers notes. The palate is as elegant as the nose, nicely blending richness, roundness and freshness and offering a great aromatic presence with a floral and iodized structure.
To taste, slightly fresh between 12° and 14°C (53-57°F) with cold starters, crustaceans, smoked salmon, grilled fish or roasted poultry.
The Jura wine region is small in size but large in its remarkable diversity. It covers 80 kilometres between Burgundy and Switzerland, in the eastern France.
Created in 1937, the AOC (designation of origin) of Cotes du Jura is omnipresent in the north and south of the vineyard, on varied and contrasting terroirs. It is the second leading AOC in Jura in terms of production, and it engages all five of the Jura's grape varieties.
The whole range of wines of the Jura is represented, although the whites dominate - still or sparkling - with wines that are round, fruity, and generous.
In order to develop a harmonious cuvée, our Côtes du Jura comes from a selection of our best plots. The Savagnin grows on soils of grey marl and ripens slowly.
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 to better control the performance.
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.
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.
Convinced of the unique Jura terroir’s potential, we have identified in the last years specific plots where Chardonnay and Savagnin vines were re-planted. Besides the traditional Jura appellations, we particularly concentrate ourselves in making wines of great freshness, with an airy, elegant and very mineral character.
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.’