ARBOIS PINOT NOIR 2022
Grape Varieties
Mainly (90%) made from Pinot Noir with a touch of the local Trousseau (10%) grape to bring the typical notes of the Jura vineyards. In fact,
Pinot Noir is often blended with other varieties in the Jura vineyard, for its flavour and cellaring potential. Planted since the 15th century on gravelly soil, it is often the first vine variety to ripen in the Jura.
Trousseau is an old local, late-fruiting and demanding vine variety from the Franche-Comté area. Trousseau requires light, gravelly, warm soil. It brings the peppery and spicy flavours to the wine.
Tasting notes
A beautiful, limpid dress with a very intense ruby colour. The nose is pleasant, straight and fine, with delicate fruity notes. In the mouth, it is a round, supple and velvety wine with a very present fruit. In addition to the traditional Pinot Noir characteristics (red fruits and tannins elegance), this Arbois offers more spicy and greedy aromas brought by the Trousseau.
Food and wine paring
Drink with mountains charcuterie and delicatessen, Bündnerfleisch, smoked ham and sausages, but also grilled or roasted meats, prepared dishes, and of course with a great plate of French Jura cheeses!
Serving suggestions
Serve at temperature of 14 to 15°C (57-59°F).
Ageing potential
5 to 6 years.
Appellation
The Jura wine region is small in size but large in its remarkable diversity. It covers 80 kilometers between Burgundy and Switzerland, in the eastern France.
The Arbois AOC is the oldest and largest of the Jura's four geographic AOCs. In particular, it was France's first AOC (created in 1937). Its name originates in the Celtic words "ar" and "bois" that would mean "fertile land".
Winemaking
Reception of the manual harvest, with sorting on sorting table. Total maceration of 12 days in thermos-regulated stainless steel tank. Followed regularly throughout the fermentation, incorporating some pumping and pigeage (punching). At the moment of pressing, the press and drop juices of each cuvee are assembled and withdrawn for malolactic fermentation on fine lees.
Ageing in stainless steel tank for 8 months. Then the wine is blended with a touch a Trousseau (10%) to keep the authentic character of each grape variety and bring local accents to this cuvée. Bottling is scheduled in spring with a light filtration.
Vintage : 2022
Having endured the nights at the beginning of April, we were spared from the effects of the frost. A budburst on 13 April and flowering on 23 May promised an early harvest. June saw more than 150 mm of rainfall, allowing the marl soils to build up some healthy reserves to cope with the hot summer weather.
The harvest was running from 16 August to 15 September. The grapes destined for the Crémant du Jura opened the show on 16 August, being the earliest date on record at the estate. This decision paid off as the balance of acidity was in line with what we were looking for. For our other Jura appellations, a generous rainfall on the weekend of 20 August allowed the vines to finish ripening in the best conditions.
The excellent health of the grapes allowed us to prolong the harvest until mid-September, with the opportunity to boost the maturity of the reds to their best polyphenolic potential, particularly for the Pinot Noir grapes, creating powerful, full-bodied wines. The white Chardonnays and Savagnins express floral aromas with a perfectly balanced mineral structure.