2020 Domaine des Notes Bleues Arbois Chardonnay "Les Nouvelles", Jura, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

A 1.3 hectare south exposed parcel in the “Les Nouvelles” vineyard overlooking the village of Mesnay. The soils are gray marl (marnes gris) from the Lias epoch, covered by limestone scree.

The grapes were whole cluster pressed upon arrival in the cellar, using an old pneumatic press. A small dose of sulfur was added after pressing to prevent oxidation. The juice undergoes 1 night of cold settling, before racking off the gross lees into a used 500L French oak barrels. Fermentation began spontaneously using only the naturally occurring indigenous yeasts and was done entirely in a used 500L French oak barrels. No stirring of the fine lees (battonage) in 2020 to preserve freshness, and the wine completed malolactic fermentation. The fermentation took a little over 6 weeks to complete.

Aged 12 months in 4-year-old 500L French oak barrels that were re-toasted in 2020. The wines were racked 1 month before bottling and a small dose of sulfur was added. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The Jura is bursting with new talent at the moment and Jurassien Cédric Mottet is one of those vignerons. He grew up around the vines, working in them most of his adolescent years to learn his craft. Cedric left the Jura to study music and a professional career however he always aspired to become a vigneron. Jura kept calling though and in 2017 he re-settled in Mesnay. He’s combined his passion for jazz with his love of wine, taking his domaine name from the blue notes, those notes which are not written but which the musicians know how to integrate into their improvisations. This also translates into his wine as he confidently experiments to create interesting cuvees.

Cedric now works 4.8 hectares organically with a mix of old and new vines. He initially purchased the Les Nouvelles vineyard from Stéphane Tissot in Arbois but has also added to his holdings with several other famed vineyards in Arbois and Mesnay including the beautiful vineyard of cul de Bray.

Most of his cuvées are single vineyard from old vines between 70 and 80 years old, however Cedric has also planted 1.5 hectares of young wines all with organic practices. He intends to plant another 60 acres this year, mainly of trousseau and this should further enhance the complexity of his wines in the future.

The whites are all aged in burgundy barrels and demi muid to give texture and length to his wines. Cedric’s whites are traditional in styling, with minerality and complexity, and he stays true to his love of jazz with many references in the cuvee names.