2011 Lulu Vigneron Vin Jaune

WINEMAKER: Ludwig Bindernagel
VARIETAL: Savagnin
REGION: Jura, FR
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

This 100% Savagnin from Ludwig (Lulu) Bindernagel spends eight years under flor yeast before release, giving the wine its characteristic burnished gold Vin Jaune yellow colour. This is Lulu's most established wine, only made in three of the last 10 years.

Ludwig Bindernagel, from Bavaria, and Nathalie Eigenschenck, from Paris, started their journey into wine in 2000. Neither of them had any experience or formal education as winemakers prior to opening their own winery, nor did they come from vigneron families. Ludwig studied viticulture remotely while working as an architect in Paris, and ultimately decided to leave to pursue his passion for viticulture and wine production. Ludwig had fallen in love with Burgundy, and completed time working with a good friend in Saint Aubin. He had initially hoped to purchase land there, however due to financial constraints, the family found that the Jura proved significantly better suited for them. This led to the purchase of Les Chais du Vieux Bourg (now Lulu Vigneron) in 2000. Their first vintage came shortly after in 2002.

The original vineyard is about 2.5 hectares in Arlay, in the centre of the Jura, and Ludwig has since expanded the estate to include vineyards in Poligny, l’Etoile and the legendary Château-Chalon. Their vineyards are all organic and they do not use any insecticides, chemical fertilizers or machinery. They are currently going through biodynamic conversion for all vineyards and hope to achieve certification by the 2019 vintage. The soil is very unique, with two marly layers and a calcareous stratus, which is rich in fossilized oysters. Vine age varies from new vines of Trousseau that replaced his previous holdings of Pinot Noir to 55-year-old vines of Savagnin.