Domaine Désiré Petit, En Baumont Vin Jaune, 2017, Château-Chalon (AOC)

'One-Liner'
One of France’s great vinous oddities – intensely nutty, saline and savoury Savagnin, patiently aged beneath a veil of yeast for more than six years.

Tasting Note
Deep golden yellow in the glass, with an extraordinary nose of fresh walnut, roasted almond and hazelnut alongside dried apple, spice and a distinctly saline, almost Manzanilla-like character. The palate is powerful and concentrated yet remarkably fresh, with savoury nut flavours joined by citrus peel, dried fruit and a subtle suggestion of curry spice. Six years beneath its protective veil of yeast have given the wine tremendous complexity without robbing it of energy. A fine streak of acidity and minerality cuts through the richness, keeping everything beautifully precise. The finish is exceptionally long, dry and refined, with walnut, almond and salty mineral notes lingering long after the glass has gone.

Country: France
Region: Jura
Sub-Region: Château-Chalon AOC
Grape(s): 100% Savagnin
ABV: 15.5%
Friendly: n/a

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Few wines are made quite like Château-Chalon. Désiré Petit’s version comes solely from Savagnin grown in the tiny En Baumont parcel at Ménétru-le-Vignoble, where blue-grey marl scattered with pebbles provides the classic Jura foundations. After beginning life much like a conventional white wine, it spends six years and three months in 228-litre barrels that are deliberately never topped up. As wine slowly evaporates, a natural layer of yeast known as the voile forms across the surface, protecting the wine while gradually developing the extraordinary walnut, spice and saline character for which Vin Jaune is famous. What remains is bottled in the traditional 62cl clavelin – a deliberately unusual bottle for a deliberately unusual wine. The Petit family have been making wine in the Jura since Désiré founded the domaine in 1932, but this tiny Château-Chalon holding represents one of the most distinctive expressions of their work.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Jura-style chicken with morels, Vin Jaune and cream
- Vegetarian: Sweetcorn, leek and cheddar tart
- Vegan: Roast cauliflower and mushroom curry with toasted almonds