Wines from the Jura are one of the hottest ticket items in wine bars across the globe at present. Why has this obscure wine producing region known mainly for the aged, yellow, savoury Vin Jaune become so popular?
Perhaps it was the flavoursome Savagnin white wines or the delicious Chardonnays that brought it to the forefront, or perhaps it is a reaction to the heavy reds of Australia and the United States with drinkers preferring the lighter, more expressive styles of the Ploussard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir wines from here.
Big changes have occurred in the Bornard domaine. Philippe has retired and his talented son Tony (photo) has taken over the operation (since 2017) with little fuss and with few observable differences for outsiders.
Tony has kept the fox logo but made it look simpler. So there is now Domaine Bornard and some wines that Tony has kept with the Tony Bornard label that he used on some of his wines in the past. All the wines from both ” brands” are made by Tony.
Tony is a meticulous operator both in the vineyard and in the winery. He has a very clear vision about what he wants to achieve and how he is going to achieve it. He is particularly interested in how he manages the soil in his vineyards to ensure longevity for the vines through the health of the soil.
The winery and many of the vineyards are in the quaint commune of Pupillin which is quite close to Arbois near the Swiss border. Tony has created a new winery in this village which is a state of the art building that even includes a special area for maturing the white wines which are so beloved in the Jura.
The wines cover two appellations. The first is the broader Cotes du Jura appellation and then most of the wines are from the tiny Arbois Pupillin appellation which only applies to grapes grown in the commune of Pupillin. You will notice that in this appellation it is permitted to name the grape variety on the label – which is unusual for France.
However, Tony will be gradually taking most of the wines out of these appellations in the coming years to provide him with more freedom with the winemaking.
You will also begin to notice that the wine labels are becoming simpler, with only the most essential information being displayed on the front label. So, for example, the 2019 Le Ginglet has only the name of the wine (Le Ginglet) and the name of the winemaker (Tony Bornard) on the front label – of course, along with the immediately recognisable fox!
The task Tony Bornard has taken on is quite daunting as it involves 11 hectares of vines covering Trousseau, Ploussard, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Savagnin as well as the wonderful Melon à Queue Rouge. He also continues to make all of the different styles of wines when the harvest permits, including Vin Jaune, Vin de Paille, Macvin and Pet Nat.
In 2017 the weather was very unkind in the Jura and the harvest was minimal. It turned out that there was insufficient grapes to make separate cuvées for the normal Domaine Bornard and Tony Bornard wines, so all of the grapes were combined into one new cuvée called Au Fil des Générations with a label that has been created using an old label for inspiration. This work has been done by Tony’s equally talented sister who works in Lyon as a designer/artist.
Tony Bornard maintains an Instagram post which you can see here. You can also find a bit more about the Jura in our review of the book on Jura wines and winemakers by Wink Lorch.
A NOTE
In the Jura, red wines are often released years before the white wines because the winemakers want the whites to develop the oxidative characteristics that make them so food friendly.
Domaine Bornard Arbois Vin Jaune 2015
There are strict rules relating to the production of Vin Jaune or ‘yellow wine’ in the Jura. It is matured in old 228 litre casks which are not topped up. The wine must be made only from the Savagnin grape variety and the vines must lie within the defined Jura region.
The maturation must continue for a minimum of 6 years and 3 months. This means that a film of yeast develops on the surface of the wine (known as a voile) thus protecting it from the oxygen in the gap in the barrel. However some oxidation occurs giving the wine some sherry-like characteristics even though it is never fortified like sherry.
Vin Jaune is very much a cult wine with 50000 people attending the annual festival in Arbois to celebrate the bottling of the current Vin Jaune.
By law the wine can only be sold in the special 620 ml format bottles. The appellation for this Vin Jaune is the Arbois Pupillin appellation reflecting where the grapes for the wine were grown. It is one of the few wines that Tony still uses the appellation for.
RRP: $237 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard VdF Le Ginglet 2021
Le Ginglet has again been produced in 2020 without the Arbois Pupillin appellation displayed on the label, rather it is released under the Vin de France appellation.
However Tony chose not to submit Le Ginglet to the appellation authorities in for many years now and there may be more wines that he might not submit as well.
The reason us that he wants the wines to reflect the terroir without having to manipulate them into wines that might be more suitable for the conservative members of the authority.
There are other wines, however, that he wouldn’t even think of taking out of the appellation process such as their delicious Vin Jaune, because then he couldn’t put those words on the label nor sell it in the Vin Jaune shaped bottles and that would be very confusing.
Anyway, we are now delighted with the result of the Ginglet in 2021. It is a light, bright and eminently drinkable wine that we absolutely love. It is typical of the best of the Trousseau wines produced in this area.
Ginglet is a word in the local “patois” which means both “having a drink” and “having fun”.
RRP: $81 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Savagnin Amphore Mammouth Italien 2016
Savagnin from Arbois-Pupillin which was macerated and fermented for several months (until the April of the following year) in an Italian amphora until Tony decided that the maceration was sufficient to create an interesting wine.
He then removed everything from the Italian amphora and gave it a light pressing to extract the juice which was then returned to the amphora for its aging.
It is noticeably unfiltered and absolutely delicious, especially with any umami-compatible food.
This is a great example showing how Savagnin can be macerated but still retain its characteristic aromas and flavours. It is breathtaking in its complexity.
The alcohol content is a very acceptable 12.2%.
RRP: $160 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Savagnin Oeuf Mammouth Télécabine 2016
This was one of Philippe’s first experiments macerating Savagnin in alternative vessels. The earliest we know of was the cuvee Macération Pelliculaire in 2015, which was a 2-week maceration in stainless steel and a wine we had many years ago.
This 2016 wine was part of a larger experiment involving three different types of vessels – an egg made from engineered stone (this cuvée), a buried Georgian Qvevri, and an Italian Amphora.
We have this and the 2020 vintage from the Qvevri in this release, and released the 2016 vintage from the Italian amphora cuvée recently.
This wine was macerated in the egg until the following April before pressing. We’re not sure when it was finally bottled but it has only just been released. The wine is aromatic, rounded and spicy with a distinctive orange colour, much more so than the amber tones of the Georgian wine.
ABV 11.8%. Certified organic. We received 24 bottles.
RRP: $159 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Savagnin Amphore Mammouth Géorgien 2020
Part of an experiment with three different vessels for maceration, a 700 litre Georgian Qvevri was buried beside Philippe Bornard’s house. It’s literally an amber wine with immense energy and drinkability but complexity too. There are spices such as cloves and liquorice on the nose and white fruits such as apricots and peaches. It’s quite extraordinary. 12.9% ABV. Certified organic. We received 48 bottles.
RRP: $135 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Chardonnay Au Fil des Générations 2021
Unfortunately this is the third time we have received this cuvée.
Only made in years with severe frost it represents all the estate’s Chardonnay – from the parcels that normally make Les Gaudrettes, Blanc de la Rouge, and Chardo Gai.
In 2017, 2019 and now again in 2021 the frost was so severe that the only way to have enough juice to make a wine was to combine everything.
The wine was directly-pressed then aged in barrels which were topped up. 12.6% ABV.
RRP: $121 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Ploussard Au Fil des Générations 2019
In 2107 and 2019 the Bornard vineyards were hit by massive frosts and they lost 85% of their crops. So, they made the difficult decision to combine all their Chardonnay and all of their Plousard into one cuvée for each grape variety. The alcohol content is 13.3%.
They did not want to use the Bornard branding prominently because the wine is a combination of Ploussard from a number of vineyards, including Tony’s.
As they were combining grapes they thought they would also pay homage to the people who had contributed in the past including Philippe (of course) and Philippe’s father and grandfather and to use a label from the past which the talented Charlène has updated.
The grapes were harvested on the 17th September 2019 and the wine is 13.3% alcohol.
RRP: $ (SOLD OUT)
Tony Bornard Le Gentil Blanc 2021
This is another of the Bornard wines that has been released under the Tony Bornard label even though he is now responsible for making all the wines and has been for some time (since about 2017 – see introduction to this page).
This is a very exciting wine! It is made from pure Savagnin which was hand-harvested on September 11th 2020. The grapes were macerated for almost three weeks before being pressed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. The resulting wine has an alcohol level of only 12.4% making it a great drink to accompany food as it is not too alcoholic.
As we have said before about this wine, it displays an amazing combination of intensity, tension, power and precision that you only find in wines made with Savagnin and where the wine is handled by a skillful artist such as Tony.
You will notice on the accompanying label the appellation Vin de France is displayed as Tony is gradually moving his wines out of the appellations so that he can make wines that he wants to make rather than conform to the stereotypes imposed by the appellation authorities.
This is a stunning wine that should be approached with reverence!
RRP: (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vivre d’Amour et de Plouplou 2018
Tony Bornard has produced a still red wine in 2018 from the very good harvest they had from their Les Gaudrettes vineyard in the commune of Pupillin.
Normally, these grapes are only found in their delightful pet nats such as Tant Mieux, but in 2018 there were enough grapes to make this wine as well from 100% Plousard.
We think that it is called Plouplou because there may be a problem putting the grape variety on the label with a Vin de France wine.
This is an excellent wine made from grapes that were picked reasonably early (6th September). Tony wanted to make an easy-to-drink wine and he certainly succeeded. The body is light as you would expect from an early-picked Ploussard from Pupillin and the alcohol is correspondingly low at a mere 10.5%.
RRP: $57 for 750ml, $113 for MAGNUM (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de France Le Vin de Ploussard
The Tony Bornard Ploussard is a light, juicy red wine that is perfect for drinking at almost any time of day. It is light in alcohol like many red wines from the Jura region, but it has the characteristic deep flavour derived from the complex marl soils that are a feature of this area. Tony thinks that drinking this wine will “open your mind” (ouvre L’esprit).
Ploussard is a grape variety that is native to the Jura region and particularly thrives on the soils around the village of Pupillin which is where Tony lives. Tony handpicked the grapes for this wine on the 11th September 2018
This is a very interesting and exciting wine.
RRP: $66 for 2018 750ml, $122 for 2016 MAGNUM (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de France Chardo Gai 2016
We tasted Tony’s wines in Pupillin when we visited him in September last year. We loved the wines even though they were then very young. We therefore were waiting with some anticipation to see how they would be after another nine months in the bottle!
After one sip of the Chardonnay we were delighted! This is a stunning, quaffable, exciting wine that we have now tried a number of times because we just can’t stop drinking it.
We have tried it with a duck and pork cassoulet and we also tried it at Dark Mofo with Marty Boetz’s deeply-flavoured pork neck curry. It was perfect with both. It is also fresh and lively enough to be drunk as an aperitif.
This is a very, very good wine from a winemaker with lots of experience in the trade. The 2016 vintage reflects the summer that they had in the Jura.
RRP: SOLD OUT
Tony Bornard Vin de France Le Pinot Ctambule
It is always exciting to receive a Pinot Noir from the Jura, and even more exciting when it is supplied by Tony Bornard from Domaine Bornard.
It is useful to remember that Tony’s vineyards are only an hour’s drive from the centre of Burgundy, so it is not surprising that Pinot is grown here. It was brought up the road from Burgundy hundreds of years ago and has developed its own character with the different climate and the different soils and the different yeasts that are found in this region.
This is a very supple wine with good fruit and some length. It is a perfect wine for roast lamb or roast chicken.
The label for this wine reminds us of when Tony had his own wines which were separated from the Domaine
RRP: $(SOLD OUT)
Tony Bornard Vin de France Le Pinot Noir 2018
This is another Pinot Noir from Tony Bornard. It is useful to remember that Tony’s vineyards are only an hour’s drive from the centre of Burgundy, so it is not surprising that Pinot is grown here.
This is a more serious Pinot Noir than his early drinking Le Pinot Ctambule 2015, which we received last October and were showing at Rootstock 2016. The vines are about 25-30 years old growing in black and red marl in a parcel just near the famous Pupillin sign you can see as you drive along the N83 from Poligny to Arbois.
During maceration Le Pinot had a little pigeage and pump-over so it is slightly more extracted than Le Pinot Ctambule. This wine was aged in a single 400 litre barrel and was bottled in June 2019.
RRP: $ (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Point Barre 2022
This Point Barre is made from the Poulsard (aka Ploussard) grape and gives off aromas of red currants, citrus and saddle leather with a touch of cinnamon.
There is a purity and silkiness to this wine that makes it quite ethereal. It matches with just about any food you care to think of.
The name, by the way, literally translates as “full stop”. So there is Ploussard, full stop, nothing else! This includes no added sulphites.
The 2022 vintage wine is more intense (darker and more profound) than usual. A reflection of the vintage, the alcohol level is higher than usual and Tony thinks it is a vintage that will keep for much longer than usual.
The vinification was slightly different to previous vinetages too. It was destemmed then macerated in stainless steel for a month (that bit is typical) but it was infused with the marc from la Chamade, the other Ploussard cuvée. After pressing it was aged in stainless steel and bottled in July 2023.
RRP: $88 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Arbois Pupillin Ploussard La Chamade 2018
This Ploussard is exactly the style of wine we have come to prefer. Darker in colour than other wines made from this grape, long on flavour and with a soft and silky mouth feel. There is an earthiness about this wine but the finish is reminiscent of cherries that have been lightly spiced. The grapes are macerated for three weeks in fibreglass tanks and the wine is then aged in one of the large wooden foudres that line his winery for a year before the wine is bottled.
“La Chamade” literally means ‘wildly’ but in the context of the pounding of the heart when drinking a good wine.
Wine iconoclast Lou Amdur of Lou’s wine bar in Los Angeles had this to say about La Chamade recently:
“Bornard´s Ploussard is, nevertheless, hardly a wallflower, but a very pretty
wine that insinuates itself into the conversation and before you know it, you
are staring sadly at an empty bottle.”
RRP: (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Arbois Pupillin Pinot Noir Aide Mémoire 2021
2021 was a vintage decimated before it began by severe frost. As a result Tony Bornard decided to only make one Pinot Noir cuvee.
This is an assembly of what would normally have been three different wines – Aide-Mémoire, Petit Feule and Le Pinot Noir (one of the cuvées made with Tony’s label). We expect this may be the case into the future with this cuvée.
The parcels where it come from include many variants of Pinot Noir, some of which are no longer cultivated and some with forgotten names. To quote (translated) Tony, “it allows us to keep in memory the work of our fathers” (i.e. an aide-memoire).
From three lieu-dits, Bessard, Feule et Sous les Lettres, all the vines are within Arbois Pupillin but the wine is designated Vin de France. If you have visited Pupillin you will easily be able to identify “Sous les Lettres”. It is the plot under the Pupillin sign which Tony bought some years ago and from where his Le Pinot has come in the past. Within these parcels there is grey, black, blue and green marl and also Triassic sandstone. The expositions are northerly, southerly and westerly.
The grapes were destemmed in the vineyard then macerated for one month in a stainless-steel tank with several pump overs but no punching down. After pressing it was aged in 400 litre barrels for about 9 months and then bottled in such a way to keep some gas from the fermentation without gas and with no additions of sulphites. It was then aged in bottle until its recent release. Its complex spices will reveal themselves Tony recommends keeping this wine for up to 10 years. 11.8% ABV.
RRP: $92 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Arbois Pupillin Chardonnay Le Blanc de la Rouge
The Blanc de la Rouge is an intense, concentrated, very dry Chardonnay that shows characteristic mineral overtones derived from the limestone and marl soils in which the vines thrive.
The name “Le Blanc de La Rouge” signifies the fact that the grapes for this white wine are sourced from the La Rouge vineyard (named after the red marl found there).
This wine shows how Chardonnay expresses itself differently at this higher altitude than nearby Burgundy.
We have been lucky enough to source some of both the 2012 vintage and the 2015 vintage in this shipment.
RRP: SOLD OUT
Domaine Bornard Arbois Pupillin Melon Le Rouge Queue 2016
The first thing you notice about the label on this wine is that Tony regards Melon as a different grape variety. This is not Melon de Bourgogne but a variant or cousin of Chardonnay that has ‘evolved’ in this region.
The local name of the grape is Melon-Queue-Rouge which refers to the red stems of the vines. Tony thinks that people just forgot about this grape but his grandfather and a few others kept growing it even though it was a smaller grape and somewhat susceptible to disease. However the INAO which officially controls French appellation law does not recognise its existence.
There are some oxidative notes in this wine which makes it very appealing to those of us who crave this experience. It is a big, fruity wine but with a razor-sharp streak of acidity offsetting the sweetness of the fruit. As is the case with many of the Bornard wines, the finish is incredibly long.
If you see the 2016 in a shop somewhere (we have sold all our allocation) then buy it! It is an extraordinary wine. Full, rich, expressive and downright delicious!
Chambers Street Wines in New York said this of the Melon recently:
This Melon-Queue-Rouge (a variety related to Chardonnay) is fermented in fiberglass and then aged in old Burgundy barrels and demi-muids. The wine is minty and green apple-y with the characteristic generosity we associate with Bornard’s wines and a riveting streak of acidity that carries through to the finish.
RRP: $131 for 750ml (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Côtes du Jura Savagnin Ouillé Les Chassagnes 2021
Les Chassagnes is named for the lieu dit where the Savagnin for this wine is sourced from. It is within the Côtes du Jura appellation just outside Pupillin. The wine though, is now classified as a Vin de France.
The soil is iridescent marne from the Keuper, which formed during the Triassic period, and is a complex layered stratified rock system which covers much of western Europe. The exposition is easterly and the vines were planted in the 1990s.
Whole bunches were directly pressed into vats to begin the fermentation and then subsequently most was transferred to 2400 litre foudre with a proportion in tank.
It was aged on lees for two years and topped up during that time. For much of the time it was still fermenting, including when we visited in September 2022. However, because of the age of the foudre there is a hint of oxidation from exposure to air via the wood. It has also had a substantial further period of aging in bottle.
Tony’s translated observations are “As it ages, this wine will develop smoky characteristics. It is aromatically intense and has a mouth that finishes with freshness.” He thinks it has the potential to age for 30 years – sadly we will not find out if that’s the case!
We also like French wine merchant Petite Caves’ description of this wine as “Slight hints of oxidative notes (almonds and hazelnuts) on the nose, quickly complemented by grapefruit and ripe yellow fruit. The mouth is full and delicious”. 12.6% ABV.
RRP: $92 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Cotes du Jura Savagnin Les Marnes 2012
This wine will grab the attention of the oxidative crowd even though it is, to our taste, relatively lightly oxidative.
Let’s explain about sous-voile wines. These are wines that have an extended period of barrel aging, during which the barrel is not topped up. The wine gradually evaporates exposing it to air but also forming a ‘veil’ of yeast on the surface which protects it from the more negative effects of oxygen.
The resultant wine develops nutty characteristics and a savoury palate that is quite compulsive. The wine was produced with native yeasts and very little sulphur has been added to the bottle. The old casks that the wine is matured in impart little if no oak flavour.
This is an intriguing and beautiful wine that will appeal to lovers of the Jura experience. It’s more affordable than Vin Jaune but, like it, is a wonderful match with nutty cheeses such as Comté, which comes from the same region.
RRP: SOLD OUT
Domaine Bornard Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Gaudrettes 2020
Chardonnay from Les Gaudrettes is always a stand-out at our tastings at the Bornard cellar and 2020 is no exception.
This wine, unexpectedly as Tony has largely eschewed appellations, is a Côtes du Jura Chardonnay, a cuvée the domaine has made for many years. The parcel Les Gaudrettes has a westerly exposition and is comprised of red marl and Triassic iridescent Keuper.
While we have written about the Jura marl many times before, one of the rock types in Les Gaudrettes has not received much attention. This is Keuper which is formed from Atlantic sediments in the late Triassic much of which was created from the remains of dinosaurs! The late Triassic occured roughly between 210 and 201 million years ago.
The vines were planted in 1975. It was directly pressed, initially fermented in vats and then aged for three years in foudre with topping up. It was bottled in August 2023.
It is fresh-tasting Chardonnay but still has complexity and a beautiful mouth-feel. It exhibits the same characteristics as his other wines on the finish – long and lingering.
RRP: $71 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de Table Vin de Bataille
This wine (formerly called Vin de Pigaille) is made in the Vin de Paille style (the authorities thought the name was too similar) and is aged for years before bottling.
This wine is a blend of Ploussard, Savagnin and Chardonnay (it is permitted in Arbois Pupillin to add red grapes to white wines provided they don’t exceed 20% of the mix). The technique sees grapes being picked and then left to dry out on straw mats to increase the concentration. Tony places fifteen bunches in each tray which are all lined with straw. The bunches do not touch each other.
It is classified as a Vin de Table because there is a requirement for the Vin de Paille designation for the wine to be at least 14.5% alcohol, whereas Tony prefers a lighter, less alcoholic style with this vintage being only 11.5%.
500 ml format
RRP: SOLD OUT ALREADY!
Domaine Bornard Arbois Pupillin L’Ivresse de Noe 2011
The fascinating L’Ivresse de Noe (named after the biblical story of the drunkeness of Noah) is a November harvest Savagnin. Because Savagnin has a hard skin the grapes can withstand the drying process as they wither on the vine and concentrate the flavour inside the grape.
The bunches are then hand-picked and pressed then moved to 400 litre tonneau to mature for two years. The barrels are kept topped up during that time.
A little residual sugar linked to high acidity gives this non-oxidative Savagnin an unusual flavour and texture; it is a beautiful, vinous wine with a very long finish. It is often drunk in the Jura as an aperitif but can also be matched with a wide range of foods.
500 ml format
RRP: $88 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de Table Petillant Naturel Rose Tant Mieux 2018
We have been hanging out for the re-emergence of one of our favourite pet nats – Tant Mieux.
This gorgeous, pink sparkling wine made in the Petillant Naturel style is made from the Ploussard grape. The wine completes its fermentation in the bottle and no sugar is added.
Nor is it disgorged so you will find some residual yeast remaining in the bottle. It is very low in alcohol at around 9% and has an appealing residual sweetness.
There is not much of it made and we have only a small allocation. However, it remains one of our all time favourite wines as it is just so versatile. You can drink it in the afternoon in the sun, it works well with snacks as the sun is going down and after a solid night of enjoyment it is a perfect drink to put a full stop to the night!
RRP: $59 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de Table Petillant Naturel En Goguette
The Bornard En Go-guette is a lovely white sparkling wine made in the Petillant Naturel style is made from the Chardonnay grape. The wine completes its fermentation in the bottle and no sugar is added. Nor is it disgorged so you will find some residual yeast remaining in the bottle. It is very low in alcohol at around 10%.
This is a beautifully made wine that works perfectly as an aperitif and also as a matching to a range of foods. Tony is a master of the petillent naturel style and any of his wines of this type are absolute treasures.
The vintage we have just received is from the 2018 vintage and has not been disgorged.
RRP: $64 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Vin de Table Petillant Naturel Ca Va Bien
“Things are going well” when you are drinking a bottle of the Bornard Ca Va Bien which is a lovely white sparkling wine made in the Petillant Naturel style made from the Savagnin grape.
The wine completes its fermentation in the bottle and no sugar is added. Nor is it disgorged so you will find some residual yeast remaining in the bottle. It is very low in alcohol at around 10%.
Tony loves making pet nats and this one clearly shows that he is a master of the difficult art.
We are lucky that 2018 was a relatively good year and that there was enough grapes to produce this amazing wines.
RRP: $54 for 2020 and 2018, $103 for 2016 MAGNUM (ALL SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard (Jo) Liqueur
This sweetish wine has been fortified and runs to 17% alcohol. It is made in the local Macvin style but not strictly according to the rules required for it to sport the appellation “Macvin du Jura” on the label.
The essential point of this wine however is that it is a combination of grape juice and special alcohol. The grape juice never ferments.
The process starts by pressing the very ripe Chardonnay grapes to create grape juice. This juice is then heated in a copper pot over a small fire to evaporate some of the water in the juice and to concentrate the sugars in a similar way to the vin cuit in Provence.
A marc–style alcohol made in the Bornard cellars from the grape must and matured for at least 18 months and sometimes up to ten years is added to the grape juice.
In addition, another alcohol called the “fine” is made from the lees and some of this is also added. The exact proportions of marc to fine varies according to the harvest but it is usually around two thirds grape juice to one third alcohol.
The wine is then matured is barrels for at least seven years!
The result is a gorgeous, sweet wine that can be drunk as an aperitif in the morning or with sweet dishes during a meal.
Macvin has been produced in this area since the 14th century even though the appellation was only proclaimed in 1991.
The name is a play on words as usual in France. (Jo) Liqueur can be broken down to Joli Queur which sounds like Joli Coeur which is a “happy heart” that you get when you drink this wine.
700ml format
RRP: $93 (SOLD OUT)
Domaine Bornard Trousseau Trompe La Mort 2017
This unique cuvée name hints at the story of this Trousseau. “Trompe la Mort” is someone who defies death or who has escaped it by miracle and that is what happened with this wine.
2017 was a year with severe frost so there were not enough grapes to make all the normal cuvées. This wine is made from the juice that normally would have made Le Ginglet and Garde Corps and also a little from the lieu-dit Le Feule, which Philippe owned separately with two friends (one is Edouard Hirsinger, the owner of the legendary La Maison Hirsinger in the centre of Arbois).
The wine was unstable for several years, with volatile acidity and mousiness. Tony was fearful for many years that the wine would not be able to be sold but patience was rewarded and eventually it settled and he was happy to offer it. 12.5% ABV.
RRP: $135 (SOLD OUT)
