2018 Domaine Berthet-Bondet Côtes du Jura Blanc Tradition
WINEMAKER: Jean & Chantal Berthet-Bondet
REGION: Jura, FR
VARIETY: Chardonnay, Savagnin
VITICULTURE: Organic
The Côtes du Jura Blanc ‘Tradition’ is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Savagnin from 30 year old vines on gravels and marls. Aged two years sous voile this is, as the name suggests, the classic oxidative Jura expression and the first window in the wonder of Berthet-Bondet’s sous voile range. Expect a complex range spanning very ripe white fruits through to roasted nuts with aged Comté, chicken stock and pithy old fruits becoming more pronounced with age but all wines should have extraordinary length with fine-boned acidity. Jean says this will age comfortably for 10 years and up to 20+ in the best vintages. This pairs beautifully with smoked fish, roasted chicken and white meats and of course hard cheeses like Comté and Swiss styles.
Domaine Berthet-Bondet was established in 1984 when Jean and Chantal Berthet-Bondet bought an old domaine that had not been producing for over 50 years, bringing with it 3 hectares of old vines. Previous to this, Jean had worked for a year with Domaine Macle, the leading producer in Château-Chalon, before deciding to make the town their home. The Berthet-Bondets also purchased an old priory house perched right at the back of the village, with spectacular views down over Château-Chalon and its vineyards. Here, Jean and Chantal built a small cuverie and extended the original underground cellars to include a well-ventilated cellar ideal for the production of sous-voile wines such as Château-Chalon.