THE GREATEST VIN BLANCS ON THE PLANET…at least, according to Amber

Question 1

Vin Jaune, Jean Bourdy, 2009, Jura ($20 2 oz, $25 2 oz

Answer 1

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Question 2

Château Chalon, Domaine Berthet-Bondet, 2012, Jura ($25 2 oz, $30 2 oz)

Answer 2

• Vin Jaune
• Begins life with alcoholic fermentation, followed by malolactic fermentation; once it goes into barrel to age. then the barrels are not filled to the top, generally, allowing for a layer of yeast to form on the surface of the wine; both acetic acid (a little) and acetaldehyde (a lot) are created during the 60 month minimum ageing process, along with the compound sotolon (this gives the wine its nutty or curry aromatics); during the ageing in barrel, the wine is also evaporating, and it is losing a lot of liquid
• must be made from the Savagnin grape, the same varietal as Traminer
• must be grown on local, grey, marl soil