When we visited Domaine Rolet in May, we took a tour of the vineyards to see the extent of the damage caused by the April frost.
Unfortunately, the Jura was badly hit by the frost, and many vineyards have seen their vines completely toast.
April Frost 2024 – Update
At Domaine Rolet, the situation is a little more positive.
Even though the Chardonnay and Poulsard grape varieties were particularly badly hit, a number of factors enabled them to pull through:
- their hillside vineyards: the cold temperatures recorded were in the lower altitude areas and the hillsides were less affected by the frosts.
- their parcelled vineyards, which spread the risks. This parcel structure is an additional advantage: it means that we can count on rich and varied terroirs that favour the planting of the 5 Jura grape varieties, each adapted to the soil that suits it best.
Floraison 2024 & Vineyard Renewal
Domaine Rolet is continuing the vineyard renewal work begun in 2018. This year, 1 ha of Trousseau and 1 ha of Chardonnay were planted at the end of May. As with all new plantings, organic viticulture will be the rule for these new hectares, which join the 20 hectares already farmed organically.
Manual wedding with pickaxes
At the time of writing, the Chardonnay grapes have flowered and gone well. The other grape varieties are still in the process of flowering.
Vegetative development has been slowed down considerably by the cold temperatures – last week, it was still 5°C in the morning. This is slowing down the development of the vines, but is also hindering the development of mildew, which has not developed in the estate’s vineyards.
The harvest is likely to be later than in recent years, in mid to late September. Stay tuned!
Vintage 2023 – A classic Jurassian vintage
At the end of the first fermentations last year, Cédric Ducoté presented us with the 2023 vintage as a fine vintage for red and white wines in general and for Domaine Rolet in particular, with both good quality and good quantity.
We can confirm this: we tasted the 2023 vintage and were delighted!
The typical Jura aromas can be found in the white wines, with notes of pear, lime blossom and citrus fruit – they are invigorating. The red wines are very supple and easy to drink, with intense aromas of red fruit, rhubarb, gooseberries and sweet spices.
The wines are very elegant, with a reasonable alcohol content of around 12.5%.
Vintages Currently Available
Crémant blanc brut
50% Chardonnay, 10% Savagnin, 40% (Pinot noir, Trousseau, Poulsard)
Very fresh on the palate, pear, floral, round, slight bitterness on the pleasant finish, good length. Fine bubbles
Dosage : 4 g/l
Crémant rosé
Blend of 90% Pinot noir and 10% poulsard
Pink strawberry-salmon colour, quite vinous, salivating, notes of red berries, pomegranate, persimmon, perfect with tuna fillet on the grill!
Dosage 3 g/L.
Crémant Coeur de Chardonnay 2018
100% Chardonnay
Vinified and matured in barrels to produce clear, fine, complex wines – very taut, lemony juices, matured for 60 months on lattes
Dosage 6g/L
Crémant blanc de noir
Blend of 90% Pinot noir et 10% de Trousseau et Poulsard
Very beautiful structure, with a palate of savoury flavours: umami, red apple, soda crackers, salinity, rich mouth watering mousse
Matured for 36 months on lattes
dosage 8g/L
Arbois Chardonnay 2023
Available in August
Intense nose of wildflower honey and roasted apples, round on the palate with hints of toast and brioche, very well-integrated barrel ageing.
Arbois Savagnin ouillé 2023
Non-oxidative. Lemony, invigorating palate of juicy citrus acidity, with aromas of cedar and pear, ginger, confit lemon and bay leaf.
L’Etoile Chardonnay “En Novalet” 2022
Flinty, very tense mineral palate, oyster shell, lime, grapefruit, sea spray, citrus peel & pith, typical notes of reduction on the finish. Mouth watering acidity.
Arbois Rouge tradition 2022
Blend of 66% of Pinot Noir aged in barrique, 30% de Trousseau (2/3 aged in stainless tank and 1/3 in barrique) and 4% of Poulsard
Pink-red colour, with berry fruit flavours and aromas of blueberry, black raspberry, vanilla, cassis, fruit de ronces, touch mocha, baking spices. Juicy finish in the mouth.
Arbois Poulsard Vieilles Vignes 2023
Light blood orange red colour, with aromas and flavours that follow: cranberry, redcurrant, rhubarb, oats/hay, pomegranate, baking spices, nutmeg, silky texture, de-stemmed. Very juicy acidity and delicate tannins.
Arbois Trousseau 2022
Bright Kirsch red colour with crushed strawberry aromas on the nose – very ripe on the palate – aromatic with beautiful fruity notes, very ripe strawberry, fairly warm spices of vanilla, dried orange peel, nutmeg, baking spices, with a powdery tannin structure in the mouth.
Côtes du Jura Expression du Terroir 2018
Oxidative Wine
A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Savagnin, the Savagnin aged for 3 years in barrels sous voile, the Chardonnay ageing in old oak foudres topped up.
Musky nose, exotic fruit, mango peel, floral, curry, hazelnut, comté, fenugreek, beurre salé, yellow apple, confit lemon. Zesty long finish on the palate.
Côtes du Jura Tradition blanc 2016
Oxidative Wine
A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Savagnin matured for at least 4 years in barrels sous voile, the Chardonnay being aged in old oak foudres.
Array of oxidative notes including curry, fenugreek, comté 24 months, smoky flint, hazelnuts, walnuts, quince, salty confit citron, sea spray, moss. Long finish in the mouth.
Arbois Tradition 2018
Oxidative Wine
A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Savagnin matured for at least 4 years in barrels sous voile, the Chardonnay being aged in old oak foudres.
Smoky flint aromas, fresh Paris mushroom, moss, curcuma, nutmeg, comté, briney, salty soda crackers, beurre salé with a long mouth finish.
Côtes du Jura Savagnin 2017
Oxidative Wine
100% Savagnin aged 5 years in barrel sous voile, not topped up
Spiced cumin and curry aromas, citrus, peaty, toasted nuts, comté, saline finish and richness in the mouth.
Arbois Vin Jaune 2016
Oxidative Wine
Excellent complexity combining the freshness of citrus fruits, minerality and notes of undergrowth, very long and salivating palate, very invigorating finish. Notes of toasted hazelnuts, walnuts, lemon citrus, mineral, smoky, briney, comté cheese, saline.
Côtes du Jura Vin Jaune 2011
92 pts Wine Enthusiast
Oxidative Wine
Bottled in the 620ml clavelin bottle, this wine epitomizes the wonderful eccentricity and tradition of the Jura. There are similarities with Sherry from Spain, but this wine has its own complexity and richness. Aged for over six years under a yeast crust, the wine is oxidative, nutty and perfectly mature. Drink now. — Roger Voss
Jura wines make us happy !