Jura and Savoie

Question 1

What is Juras climate?

Answer 1

Continental. Very harsh winters

Question 2

What are the main grapes of Jura?

Answer 2

Red-
Poulsard(Ploussard)
Trouseau
Pinot noir

White-
Chardonnay(Gamay Blanc)(most whites are 100% Chardonnay)
Savagnin(Naturé/traminer)

Question 3

What are the styles of wine produced by the two local red grapes of Jura?

Answer 3

Poussard- very light, thin skinned grape known for producing light red wines with floral lift. Very light in colour and is used often to make Vin Gris.

Trousseau- produces the more rugged and deep style of wine. Hard to ripen in juras climate so it is often a blending grape. High alcohol and high sour cherry acid often followed by a jerky nose. Known as Bastardo in Portugal and used in port production

Question 4

What is voile and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 4

Voile is the French word for veil and refers to the flor like later that forms in vin jaune. It is thinner than flor and takes 2-3 years to fully develop. Voile thrives better in the lower alcohol of unfortified wines.

Question 5

What is Vin Jaune and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 5

Vin Jaune is French for yellow wine and is a speciality of Jura. Made from 100% late harvest savagnin grapes with enough potential alcohol to reach 13-15%. The wine is fermented slowly in old 228L Pieces that are not filled all the way up to allow some oxidation and development of a voile(flor like layer), this may take 2-3 years. The wines age for a minimum of 6 years and 3 months between harvest and bottling although not all time must be held in cask. During this time only 62% of the original wine will remain and the wine will be bottled in squat bottles called clavelins that are 620ml.

The wines develop a distinctive Yellow/golden colour and nutty flavours.

Question 6

What is a Clavelin?

Answer 6

A Clavelin is the squat bottles of Jura Vin Jaune wines that hold 620ml representing the 62% of wine remaining after the 6 year 3 month aging criteria.

Question 7

What grapes can be used in Jura vin de paille?

Answer 7

Jura straw wine can include any grapes but Pinot noir

Trousseau, Poulsard, Chardonnay and Savagnin

Question 8

What are the appellations of Jura from north to south?

Answer 8

4 appellations

• Cotes du Jura(main overarching appellation)
• Arbois
• Chateau-Chalon
• L’etoile(Li-quan)

Question 9

What is Arbois and what kind of wines does it produce?

Answer 9

Arbois(Ar-Bwa) is the most northern appellation of Jura and is capable of producing all styles of Jura wine. The commune of Pupilin may append it’s name to the appellation.

Question 10

What is l’Etoile and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 10

l’Etoile(Li-quan) is the more southern appellation of Jura. It is a white wine only appellation named after a local fossil that is shaped like a 5 pointed star. Wines may be made from Chardonnay, Poulsard and Savagnin and are normally bottled late in an oxidative style.

Question 11

What are the labeling terms for Jura to specify oxidative vs fresh styles of wine?

Answer 11

Trick question! There are none. Some consumer friendly changes are being considered but currently a in-depth understanding of producer style is required

Question 12

What is Chateau Chalon and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 12

Cote chalon is the central appellation of Jura that specialises in Vin Jaune. The wines are kept in barrel until December 15th, 6 years after harvest.

Question 13

What is the sparkling style of Jura?

Answer 13

Cremant du Jura. Chardonnay, Pinot noir and trousseau must make up a minimum of 70% of the blend

Question 14

What is Macvin du Jura and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 14

Macvin du Jura is a vin de liqueur where aged Marc(French grappa) is added to unfermented grapes making a sweet, unfermented but alcoholic grape juice. This is then aged for a minimum of 10 months in oak. This may be red, white or rose

Question 15

What is Savoie and and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 15

Savoie(sav-wa) is an alpine appellation south of Jura. A cool continental climate moderated by lake Bourget and lake Geneva(western Europe’s largest body of fresh water).

White:
Majority Jacquére but higher quality wines are made from Altesse, Roussanne and Chardonnay

Red:
Gamay, Mondeuse and Pinot Noir.

Many minor grapes exist and exact blends depend on village and producer.

Regional appellations:
•Roussette de Savoie - 100% Altesse
•Seyssel - produces dry, off dry and mousseux
•Bugey- wines of all 3 colours but specialises in a methode ancestrale sparkling rose Bugey Cerdon
•Roussette de Bugey - 100% Altesse
•Cremant de Savoie - sparkling based on Jacquere, Altesse, Chardonnay and some reds

Question 16

What is Bugey-Cerdon and what kind of wine does it produce?

Answer 16

Bugey-Cerdon is a small sub appellation of Bugey in Savoie south of Jura. The area exclusively makes methode ancestrale sparkling rose made from Gamay and Poulsard.

Floral, slightly sweet wines with 22-80g/L of residual and 7-8.5 alcohol. The wine is said to have a distinctly grapey flavour