2019 Domaine de la Touraize Arbois Ammonites

WINEMAKER: André-Jean Morin
REGION: Jura, FR
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Organic

Chardonnay from 30-50 year old vines from the Curoulet and la Platière lieu-dits, grown on rich gravel and marl. Aged in old demi-muids for 30 months. Topped up weekly. Not fined or filtered. 2mg/L SO2 before bottling.

"This is seriously good, and reminds me of one of my favourite Jura Chardonnays of late - 2016 La Croix Rouge by Bruyère/Houillon. Very clean and light, with a pure and lifted aromas of pears, white nectarines and raw macadamia. To taste it is mineral, sharp and precise. As it warms, the texture builds. There is huge tension and laser like acidity that lingers forever. Even with the tension, it remains very smooth and full of flavour. Exceptional."

Since 2010, A-J and Héléana have slowly converted all the vineyards to organic (completed in 2017, and they will obtain certification in 2019), and in Autumn of 2017, they also began experimenting with biodynamics, and are now currently in conversion as well. In the cellar A-J works with indigenous yeasts and without additives - with the exception of a small amount of sulfites. Élevage is either in stainless steel, old barriques of various sizes, or extremely old large Alsatian foudre (some over 100 years old). A-J is meticulously clean in the cellar, and this shows in the wines – they are of extremely high calibre, faultless, and can stay open for days without any issue. They are pure wines that truly express their terroir, and for me are some of the best wines coming out of the Jura.