Jura

Jura wines

In the Jura region , vines are cultivated on the slopes, between 200 and 400 meters in altitude. The soils of the Jura plateau are very calcareous, but the hillsides below have more complex subsoils, a mixture of marl , clay, and limestone. This is one of the northernmost wine regions of France, experiencing sometimes abrupt temperature variations. Of the grape varieties authorized in the region in 1732, only five are cultivated today: Poulsard , Pinot Noir , and Trousseau for red wines, and Chardonnay and Savagnin for white wines.

The 4 geographical AOCs of the Jura were created in the 1930s: Côtes du Jura , l'Étoile , Arbois and Château-Chalon . 3 commercial AOCs have been added: Macvin du Jura , Crémant du Jura and Marc du Jura .

Arbois

The Arbois appellation covers 766 hectares and 12 communes in the northern Jura region, where the five Jura grape varieties are cultivated. Production is predominantly red wine, but white wine is also produced. This is somewhat paradoxical considering the appellation is primarily renowned for its Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille !
The red and rosé wines of this appellation are fruity on the nose and palate, generally low in tannins with a touch of acidity. The dry white wines are pale yellow, sometimes with green highlights, and have aromas of nuts and fruit.
Arbois wines pair very well with fish or white meats.

Côtes du Jura

The Côtes du Jura appellation is the largest in the Jura wine region. It covers 105 communes from north to south, resulting in a great diversity of terroirs, yet it has fewer vines planted than Arbois (551 hectares). It primarily produces white wines and Crémant, but also red and rosé wines, Vin Jaune, and Vin de Paille.
The red wines express red fruit aromas and reveal tannins on the palate. Their color evolves from a cherry red in their youth to a more orangey red with age. The white wines made from Chardonnay are pale yellow, and a beautiful golden yellow when made from a blend of Chardonnay and Savagnin. In their youth, they are fresh and floral on the nose, fruity on the palate. They gain roundness with age and develop aromas of dried fruit.

Yellow Wine

Vin Jaune is produced exclusively from Savagnin grapes and must age in oak barrels for 6 years and 3 months. Originally produced only in the Château-Chalon appellation, it is now also made in other Jura appellations. It is characterized by its golden color, from which it takes its name, and by its numerous and powerful aromas on the nose and palate: nuts, spices, dried fruit… It is a wine with excellent aging potential .

Each year, the new vintage is "tapped" on the first weekend of February during the famous Percée du Vin Jaune . The wine can then be sold in clavelins , 62cl bottles that are specific to it.

The flagship vintages of the Jura region

The last ten years haven't really seen any exceptional vintages in the Jura region overall, although 2009 was very good. However, more specifically, 2015 was a very good year for Trousseau wines, as was 2013 for Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. 2005 could be considered the vintage of the century for white Arbois wines.

The main producers of the Jura

Domaine Rolet , a family estate founded in the early 1940s, produces all types of Jura wines using sustainable farming practices.