2019 Domaine Overnoy Pinot Noir

WINEMAKER: Guillaume Overnoy
REGION: Jura, FR
VARIETAL: Pinot Noir
VITICULTURE: Organic

Four parcels from 10 to 30yo in the villages of Cesancey and Beaufort-Orbagna. As per all reds at the domaine, grapes are manually destalked in the vineyard with a traditional 'crible' – a perforated wooden tray on which the bunches are rubbed – grapes are therefore not crushed. Two weeks cuvaison with gentle extraction, nine months ageing in barrels, three months 'en masse' in stainless steel with 0.5g/hl SO2 added, bottled unfiltered. Juicy, ripe and fragrant it displays moreish aromas of raspberries, morello cherries and wild roses.

"The first thing you notice is the name, Overnoy. This one is not to be confused with the legendary estate in Pupillin although Guillame's Grandfather was a brother to Pierre Overnoy and their Poulsard is propagated from cuttings from Arbois-Pupillin. This estate is located in Orbagna, in the south of the Jura in the region of Sud Revermont. They are not too far away from Rotalier, home to the famous estates of Labet and Ganevat. In fact it was Julien Labet who introduced me to Guillaume Overnoy in early 2017 when we visited him and had dinner afterwards. Julien had invited Guillaume to come for dinner and to meet us and we tasted his excellent wines. Last year I went there with none other than Francois Rousset (Rousset-Martin) who had heard the hype and was eager to taste.

Guillaume came back to the family estate in 2013 and has been working full time since then. In 2014 he began conversion of the estate of 5.5 hectares to organic cultivation. They have all five Jura varieties planted and specialize in Trousseau which does particularly well in their area. The vines are grown mostly in Orbagna but they also have a single hectare further north in Cesancey. All vines are hand tended and farmed organically, always have been. Vinification is sensitive, observative, and skillful - generations of experience come in very handy." - Andrew Guard