Domaine Rolet, Arbois Chardonnay 2022, Jura

This estate, founded in 1942 by Désiré Rolet, has risen to prominence by acquiring prime parcels of old vines. Domaine Rolet owns over 65 hectares and cultivates all five of Jura’s varieties: Chardonnay and Savagnin for the whites, Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir for the reds. It is now run by a young, dynamic team led by Cédric Ducoté who took over the estate in 2018. Committed to striking the right balance between tradition and modernity, the team is focussed entirely on quality, and has introduced several initiatives in the cellar and vineyards to this end.

Head viticulturist Louis Morel is overseeing the conversion to organic farming, having already moved away from herbicides and pesticides. The vines are planted on steep hillsides where each variety is paired with the soil, light caterpillar tractors are employed to prevent soil compaction, and all grapes are harvested by hand. The same commitment to quality is found in the cellar, where winemaker Chloe Weber uses modern techniques to produce balanced, mineral-driven wines that epitomise the best of the Jura.

The Arbois Chardonnay, like all Chardonnay at Domaine Rolet, is made in a Burgundian rather than traditional oxidative style. After fermentation in tank, the wine spends 18 months in 228L oak barrels, of which 30% are new. The wine displays an attractive flintiness on the nose and is a good example of a modern Jura Chardonnay while preserving the region’s character.