Domaine du Pelican, Savagnin Ouille 2019

Savagnin ouille, sometimes called Traminer, or Fleur de Savagnin, is the topped-up version of Savagnin, one that Domaine du Pelican has been producing since 2012. This cuvee is made of many different parcels located in Arbois and Montigny-les-Arsures. The soils are very diverse: multi-coloured marls; fallen limestone rocks (e?boulis calcaires) over grey marls; and marly limestone. The grapes are lightly crushed before being pressed, and fermentation is in foudres and barrels. One-third of the crop macerates with the skins for one night before being pressed. Ageing is in 500-litre barrels with 20% new oak for just over half of the crop. The balance is in foudre and vats.

Since its birth in Montigny-les-Arsures in 2012, Domaine du Pelican has rapidly established itself as one of Jura’s leading lights, producing exceptional biodynamic wines that mix finesse with thrilling Jurassien character. The project was born in Taillevent Paris where Guillaume d’Angerville, proprietor of the great Volnay estate Marquis d’Angerville, was served blind a bottle of Jura Chardonnay from the 2005 vintage. Struck by its quality, Guillaume was taken a back to discover the wine was not from Meursault, let alone anywhere in the Cote d’Or. This moment proved the trigger for an exciting new project. Several Jura visits and tastings later and Guillaume was convinced to buy land there. He sought the help of respected Jura geologist Yves Herody to find the best vineyard sites, a journey which took three years and culminated in a deal with the Chateau de Chavannes in Montigny-les-Arsures in 2012 to purchase and lease five hectares. Jean-Marc Brignot sold him another five hectares shortly afterwards and finally in 2014 five hectares were leased from retiring Jura legend Jacques Puffeney.

The estate is managed by Guillaume’s Volnay Regisseur and partner in Domaine du Pelican, François Duvivier, who runs a team permanently based in the Jura. The vines are between Arbois and Montigny. Vitally all 15 hectares are within 2km of each other, the same as in Volnay, this allows the estate to grow the vineyards bio-dynamically – for which some of the necessary treatments need to be made within two hours of preparation. The plots are among Jura’s finest, the very best being En Barbi and Grand Curoulet. The terroirs here, a mix of marly clay and gravels with varying exposures from north to south, are even more complex than in Burgundy.