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


  1. Exquisite Collection

     Cremant de Jura 2016
      Maison du Vigneron


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 - “I’d be very happy if served this and told it was champagne”.


Best value

  1. Cremant de Savoie NV

Petille Idylle

Domaine de L’Idylle Brut

Famille Tiollier



Pinot Noir, Jacquere, Roussette



13%


Cruet, Isere Valley, Savoie


Yapp Brothers


£16.75

Savoie’s rival cremant had rather more bouquet than the Jura version – nutty, pears. It had more “attack” 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.



  1. Domaine de l’Idylle Cruet

Vielles Vignes’ 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

  1. Domaine de l’Idylle Roussette Cuvee Emilie 2017

Famille Tiollier


100% Roussette

aka Altesse


13%


Cruet, Isere Valley, Savoie




Yapp Brothers


£16.75

“Another cracker” from an indigenous grape, known as “highness”. 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!


  1. Pouilly-Vinzelles 2015

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 – 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 farmyard– but pleasing. Raspberries, plums and spice on the palate. Not an austere wine, with low acidity – 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 – of wildflowers – 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 – 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 on….The nose for one had the sweetness of cutting a ripe pineapple open…but for another there was cabbage underlying the fruit…while for another it was definitely flowers rather than fruit , say freesias, chrysanthemums or roses. The palate for one had a “malteser aftertaste”, a chocolately sweetness in the mouth…..for another it was rather thin, with no tannins and not much body or fruit…while another found fresh cherries…. 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 ‘Little

Tuscany’ 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

Vin de Liqueur’


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 flavours…. linseed oil, raisin, cooked banana, almond, watermelon…and more grappa! “I could drink this all day!” “Oh no!” “Oh yes! “Oh no! -it’s odd!” “You mean distinctive!!”……….


Joint third




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