Jura Flashcards
What percentage of French wine production does Jura comprise?
0.2%
Where is Jura AOC located?
On west facing slopes in the Jura Mountains, east of Burgundy along the border with Switzerland. Altitudes are between 250-400m
What has been the trend in Jura’s area under vine? What led to this development?
Since 1850 Jura has shrunk to 10% of it’s original size. Mildew, phylloxera, the railway connecting Paris to Southern France, and world wars dimishined the area under vine
What varieties are grown in Jura AOC?
Savagnin
Poulsard
Trousseau
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
What is attractive to sommeliers and wine enthusiasts about Jura wines?
The distinctive style of wine produced there and the local varieties used
What is the climate in Jura? How much rainfall does it experience?
Continental with significant sunshine and warmth due to climate change.
1,100mm of rainfall per year with sig signficant amounts during the growing season.
Is rainfall a problem in Jura?
Yes. High rainfall during the growing season can disrupt flowering and fruit set, dilute plants, and increase pressure from weeds and fungal disease.
Is hail and/or frost an issue in Jura?
In the 21st century hail has become a regular threat
What type of soil is generally found in Jura?
Clay and marl soils with some patches of limestone
What technique is used in Jura to reduce the use of herbicides? How does this work?
Cover crops, especially grass, planted between vine rows allows for herbicide use to be restricted to just below the vines.
It also reduces erosion.
What type of vine training is used in Jura?
High trained replacement canes (to reduce frost risk) and VSP (to increase airflow)
Is machine harvesting common in Jura?
It is increasingly popular except where slopes are too steep. The machines help reduce cost and improve efficiency and speed of harvest.
Yields in Jura are not close to the maximum permitted yields per AO regulations. Why?
Weather hazards, such as frost and rain early in the season causing mildew, reduces yields.
AOC red wine was harvested at 23 hl/ha, less than half the maximum
What is the most planted variety in Jura? What type of wine is it used in?
Chardonnay at around 40%, primarily used in Crémant du Jura
What is the risk of planting Chardonnay in the Jura?
It is early budding, making it vulnerable to spring frost
What percentage of plantings does Savagnin comprise in the Jura? What hazards does it face there?
20%
It is early budding and thus susceptible to spring frosts, but is resistant to fungal disease due to its thick skin
What style of wine is produced with Savagnin in the Jura? What is the character of Savagnin wines?
It is used for conventional white wines and the traditional Vin Jaune.
It displays high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and medium (-) intensity lemon and apple fruit
What is the most planted black grape variety in the Jura? What percentage of total plantings does it comprise?
Poulsard. It is 15% of plantings in the Jura
What is Poulsard susceptible to in Jura? Why?
Spring frosts because it is early ripening
All fungal diseases due to its thin skin
Coulure, just because
What are the advantages to growing Poulsard in Jura?
It can be harvested early, before autumn rains
What is the character of Poulsard based Jura wines?
Very pale ruby with high acid, low tannins, light body, medium alcohol, and low intensity red fruit (red currant, cranberry) aromas
What is the typical quality and pricing of Jura Poulsard wines?
Good to very good
Mid to premium
What is the second most planted black grape variety in Jura? How is it used?
Pinot Noir, used primarily as a blending component in red blends, in Crémant du Jura, and now more often in varietal wines
What are the advantages of growing Trousseau in Jura? What are the disadvantages?
It has thick skins and his resistant to disease
It can suffer from botrytis, can flower poorly, and suffer from coulure
What care must be given to Trousseau to ensure it ripens fully in Jura?
Planting on warm soils at the bottom of slopes or at the top of slopes with good exposure
Canopy management due to the high vigor of the vine
What is the typical character of Trousseau wines from Jura?
Pale ruby, medium to high acid, low to medium tannins, medium alcohol, light to medium (-) body, low intensity red fruit (red cherry)
What is the typical quality and pricing of Trousseau wine from Jura?
Good to very good
Mid to premium
How are Savagnin and Chardonnay fermented for conventional white wines? Why?
In stainless steel or old barrled at mid-range temperatures to provide a neutral environment and reduce development of fruity esters.
Malolactic conversion is common.
How long is the maceration for red wines in Jura? At what temperature is it carried out
Typically short, around 5-10 days
30⁰C or less is generally the maceration temperature
How is Poulsard macerated in Jura? How is it aged?
Carbonic or semi-carbonic
Some are aged in large, old oak barrels and casks for a few months before release
How are Trousseau and Pinot Noir wines macerated and fermented compared to Poulsard in Jura?
They may see longer times in maceration with the intent for greater structure and ageability.
How long are red Jura wines aged in barrel before release?
Typically less than a year
Is it common to use a Burgundian style of winemaking in Jura?
No, though some producers will use barrel fermentation and perhaps lees stirring for complexity
True or False
New oak is often used in Jura winemaking
False. Old oak and stainless steel are used to reduce cost and preserve fruity flavors.
What style of wine is Vin Jaune?
Oxidative
How is Vin Jaune produced?
Savagnin is fermented to dryness and aged in barrels with space left above the wine. A flor layer called le voile (the veil) forms and the wines are left to mature for 6 years without topping off or moving.
True or False
Many Sauvignin barrels for Vin Jaune production are removed in 2-3 years
True. These wines are used to make younger oxidative styles or blends with Chardonnay which may or may not have also been oxidatively aged
Do Jura producers inoculate their barrels to create flor layers?
Some might, though the process can occur naturally by properly positioning barrels, cellar ventilation, and openness to seasonal weather changes
What is the typical ABV of Vin Jaune? Why?
15%
The ABV of the wine is 13.5% before aging begins, but rises as the wine ages due to transpiration of water through the barrels
What is the character of Vin Jaune?
Medium lemon to medium gold
Dry, high acid, medium body, high alcohol, pronounced bread dough, walnuts, ginger, and green apple
What is the typical quality and pricing of Vin Jaune?
Very good to outstanding
Premium to super premium
What is the ageability of Vin Jaune? How does Vin Jaune compare to other oxidative white wines?
Vin Jaune can age for several decades. Other oxidative wines have similar flavors, but are less intense and lower in alcohol.
What is Vin de Paille? How is it made in Jura?
A sweet wine made with grapes that are dried off of the vine. All jura varieties except Pinot Noir may be used. These wines must be aged for a minimum of 18 months in oak and released three years after harvest.
What is the minimum ABV and RS of Vin de Paille from Jura?
14% ABV and RS between 70-120 g/L
What other appellations exist within Jura AOC?
Cremant du Jura Côtes du Jura Arbois Château Chalon L'Etoile
What types of wine are made in Côtes du Jura AOC?
Red, rosé, white, Vin Jaune, and Vin de Paille, though the majority is white wine
What types of wine are made in Arbois AOC?
Red, rosé, white, Vin Jaune, and Vin de Paille, though the majority is red wine
What types of wine are made in Château-Chalon AOC?
Vin Jaune
What types of wine are made in L’Etoiles AOC?
White wines, including Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille
What is the difference in area between Côtes du Jura AOC and Arbois AOC?
Côtes du Jura AOC is an area of 560 planted hectares with Jura.
Arbois AOC is geographically smaller but more densely planted, with 780 ha planted around the town of Arbois.
True or False
The appellations of Jura share the same requirements for specific wine categories
True, except for the maximum permitted yields in Chateau-Chalon
What grapes must be included in the white wines of Jura? What are the maximum yields?
80% of either or both, but Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille must be 100% Savagnin
Maximum yield for white wines (excluding Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille) is 60 hL/ha
What grapes must be included in the rosé and red wines of Jura? What are the maximum yields?
Pinot Noir, Poulsard, and Trousseau. They must comprise 80% of the wine
Yields are a maximum of 55 hL/ha
What grapes must be included in Vin Jaune? What are the maximum yields?
Vin Jaune can only be 100% Savagnin. Maximum yields are 60 hL/ha except in Château-Chalon, where it is 30 hL/ha.
What are the production and release requirements for Vin Jaune?
100% Savagnin with 60 hL/ha max yields (30 hL/ha in Château-Chalon)
Barrel matured under le voile for six years without racking or topping up
Bottled in 62cl ‘clavelin’ bottles
Can only be sold the seventh January after harvest
2hat are the maximum yields for Vin de Paille in Jura?
20 hL/ha
What percentage of wine production in Jura comes from estates? Négociants? Cooperatives?
Estates: 50%
Négociants: 30%
Cooperatives: 20%
How many cooperatives operate in Jura?
Four
How many companies account for 50% of Jura wine sold? What are they?
Frutière Vinicole d’Arbois
La Maison de Vigneron
Henri Maire
Is organic and natural wine production common in Jura?
Yes. 20% of vineyards follow organic and natural philosophies, over double the French national average
True or False
Jura is not greatly affected by vintage variation
False. From 2012-2017, the range of production was 45,000-105,000 hL
How much of Jura’s wine is exported? Has this increased or decreased since 2000?
20%, a rapid increase
