2018 Côtes du Jura, Pinot Noir, Cuvée Julien, Domaine Jean-François Ganevat, Jura

Domaine Jean-Francois Ganevat

Côtes du Jura

The Côtes du Jura wine-making region is in the Jura department of eastern France. The region’s climate is influenced by continental and oceanic factors, contributing to producing distinctive wines using traditional methods.

Côtes du Jura is renowned for its white wines, particularly those made from Chardonnay grapes, encompassing oxidative winemaking techniques, which offer characteristic nutty and oxidised flavours. Vin Jaune, a type of oxidative wine made from the Savagnin grape and aged for at least six years and three months in small oak barrels, is a standout example of the region’s unique offerings.

In addition to Vin Jaune, a variety of other wine styles are produced, including Côtes du Jura Blanc, which showcases the oxidative character typical of the region. Furthermore, the area has red wines made primarily from the Poulsard and Trousseau grape varieties, offering a range of flavours from light and fruity to more structured and complex.

The winemakers of Côtes du Jura take pride in preserving their winemaking heritage while exploring innovative techniques to craft exceptional wines. With its picturesque vineyards and dedication to producing high-quality wines, the region continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, making it a fascinating destination for wine exploration and appreciation.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.

The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.