The Edinburgh Wine Club |
Wines from Jura, Savoie - mainly |
14 November, 2019 |
|
Wine/Producer |
Grape |
ABV |
Location |
Supplier |
Price |
Comments |
Rank 1-3 Best value Best white |
|
Cremant de Jura 2016 Maker: Nicolas Haeffelin |
100% Chardonnay |
12% |
Jura |
Aldi |
£8.29 |
Sherbety, light, creamy. Apple and peardrops on the nose.
A sweet aftertaste. Taste a little flat for one, but for
most this was very pleasing indeed - ÒIÕd be very happy if
served this and told it was champagneÓ. |
Best value |
|
Petille Idylle Domaine de LÕIdylle Brut Famille Tiollier
|
Pinot Noir, Jacquere, Roussette
|
13% |
Cruet, Isere Valley, Savoie |
Yapp Brothers |
£16.75 |
SavoieÕs rival cremant had rather more bouquet than the
Jura version Ð nutty, pears. It had more ÒattackÓ with
more pronounced fruit acidity and was longer, and perhaps
more unusual because of its inclusion of indigenous
grapes. However, opinions divided pretty evenly on which
of these two excellent cremants was our preference. |
|
ÔVielles VignesÕ Blanc 2018 Famille Tiollier Drink in the next 3 yrs 11-13 deg |
100% Jacquere | 12% | Cruet, Isere Valley, Savoie |
Yapp Brothers |
£13.25 | Another very good wine. A sweet nose in the pear to melon range was experienced by most, but one found damp hay. There was a touch of burnt vanilla in the mouth, and a dryness in the middle that gave way to a sweet finish. | Joint third |
|
Famille Tiollier |
100% Roussette aka Altesse |
13% |
Cruet, Isere Valley, Savoie
|
Yapp Brothers |
£16.75 |
ÒAnother crackerÓ from an indigenous grape, known as
ÒhighnessÓ. A sweet nose with a whiff of wood smoke for
most, but farmyard for one. Longer on the palate than the
Jacquere, and sweet at the end, but less full. A slight
tingle of acidity helped give it length. Well done, your
highness! |
|
|
Joseph Drouhin Keep 2 to 5 yrs, serve at 12/13deg.
|
100% Chardonnay |
13% |
Cote Maconnais, Beaune, Bourgogne |
Waitrose |
£21.99 |
A side trip to Burgundy for this classy wine. Most were
very impressed by the balance between its acidity and its
sweetness. Its four years in bottle had rounded the edges
off the acidity, and gave it a pleasing creaminess. |
Second and Best White |
| 6. Mondeuse 2017 Cuvee Gastronomie Domain Jean Perrier & Fils |
100% Mondeuse |
12% |
Savoie AOC Les Marches Porte de Savoie |
Vinatis |
£13.91 |
The first red, again from an indigenous grape, provoked a
discussion about the nose, with rosewater, raspberry,
violet and Deep Heat all being detected. On the palate it
was reminiscent of a Pinot Noir from Alsace Ð an
impressive initial impact with cherry and white pepper,
and then an undemanding softness with an absence of
tannin. It would be very good as a chilled summer wine,
and in our chilled Edinburgh winter it went very well with
salami. |
|
|
7. Gamay Vieilles Vignes 2017 Cave de Chautagne Co-op of 40 growers, steep valley with deep lakes to temper Alpine climate |
100% Gamay |
12.5% |
Ruffieux, Chataugne Savoie AOP |
Vinatis |
£10.02
|
On the nose a touch of farmyardÐ but pleasing. Raspberries, plums and spice on the palate. Not an austere wine, with low acidity Ð a light Gamay. It might not have the finesse or grip of a Beaujolais, but very pleasant. Like all these wines, totally convincing as a food wine. And, like most, with low alcohol. |
|
|
8. Arbois Poulsard 2016 Domaine Jean-Louis Tissot Drink 2018 - 2021 |
100% Poulsard Vinified in cement tanks before bottling |
13% |
Montigny Les Arsures Jura |
Yapp Brothers
|
£12.95 |
This distinctive wine had a
pleasing mixture of tannins and fruit, and was the best
liked of the reds up to that point. Although the colour
suggested little contact with the skins, the grape is
thin-skinned. The wine was unusual in having a nose Ð of
wildflowers Ð that was different from the palate, but for
some this was a feature of interest. It was less soft than
the previous reds, and its tannic grip would help make it
a good food wine Ð being recommended to go with
charcuterie, roast game and as an aperitif with cheese.
|
|
|
9. Arbois Trousseau 2017 Domaine Jean-Louis Tissot Drink 2019-2023
|
100% Trousseau (aka Bastardo) Vinified in cement tanks, then oak foudres |
14.5% |
Montigny Les Arsures Jura |
Yapp Brothers
|
£15.75 |
As the bastardo kicked in the
comments kicked onÉ.The nose for one had the sweetness of
cutting a ripe pineapple openÉbut for another there was
cabbage underlying the fruitÉwhile for another it was
definitely flowers rather than fruit , say freesias,
chrysanthemums or roses. The palate for one had a
Òmalteser aftertasteÓ, a chocolately sweetness in the
mouthÉ..for another it was rather thin, with no tannins
and not much body or fruitÉwhile another found fresh
cherriesÉ. and another found liquorice, to be precise the
pink or blue one with the spots on it. Reader, make of
that what you may
|
|
|
10. Louis La Tour Les Pierres Dorees Pinot Noir 2017 Drink 2019-2024
|
100% Pinot Noir Grown in ÔLittle TuscanyÕ 40km NW of Lyons- usually gamay |
13% |
Pays des Pierres Dorees, Villefranche sur Saone, Beaujolais |
Vinatis |
£13.91 |
We returned to Burgundy for this Pinot Noir. It was
elegant, fresh and fruity. It was also well balanced with
harmony across its various elements - without the
uncontrolled acidity which can mar young red Burgundy.
Leaving it exposed in the glass you could begin to detect
the many flavours that would develop in the more mature
wine. Very good value at £13.91. |
First
|
|
11.. Macvin du Jura Domaine Frederic Lambert High strength version of local spirit added to fruit must
|
100% Savagnin ÔVin de LiqueurÕ |
16.5% |
Le Chateley Jura |
Vinatis |
£21.88 |
This unusual wine provided a fitting ending. Some
detected a distinct grappa nose. On the palate we found a
broad range of flavoursÉ. linseed oil, raisin, cooked
banana, almond, watermelonÉand more grappa! ÒI could drink
this all day!Ó ÒOh no!Ó ÒOh yes! ÒOh no! -itÕs odd!Ó ÒYou
mean distinctive!!ÓÉÉÉ. |
Joint third |