Domaine Daniel Dugois Vin Jaune 2005 Arbois Jura

Domaine Daniel Dugois Vin Jaune 2005 from Arbois in the Jura is stocked by the Caves de Pyrene and is a semi organic wine. It is a wine that is matured in a barrel under the same type of yeast called 'Flor' that is used in Jerez for sherry production. Vin Jaune means 'yellow wine' and is only made in the Jura region of France, due to its maturation it has a similar aroma to a dry fino sherry - but the big difference is that it is not fortified the alcohol level is 12.5%.
It is made from the Savagnin grape which is grown in the Jura, and is 'late harvested', harvested in October. The grapes started off by  being fermented slowly, kept in small old oak casks which hold 228 liters (60 gallons) and which were not topped up, evaporation leads to an air gap appearing above the wine. . A film of yeast grows over the wine, partially protecting it  from any oxidation but allows evaporation. In Jura, this film, called a voile or veil  is similar to a flor in Sherry production and has many similar properties but thrives better in a lower alcohol environment and so develops less heavily and thickly than "flor" does. This wine was aged for at least 6 years in this way (by law) The aromas and flavours associated with sherries is here.
This gold liquid has an oxidated colour ( yellowing) and has a yeasty, spicy aroma with an orange citric twist, encapsulated with a nuttiness. On tasting it - it is dry, fresh and the alcohol is well integrated. This light bodied 'white' wine has freshening acidity and some tannin - low but still obvious. Flavours of nuts, citric skin and yeast are apparent, and the length is long and nutty and rich with a bitter marmalade finish. Drink in the same way as you would a sherry,  with cheese and nuts, and in the Jura it will often accompany a dish that it has been used as one of the ingredients!

Vin de Savoie-Ayse Gringet 'Les Alpes' 2010

Domaine Belluard produces Vin de Savoie-Ayse Gringet 'Les Alpes' 2010 in Ayes using the grape Gringet ( which is an unusual grape to use in a varietal still wine ) in the beautiful Savoie region of France, he converted to Biodynamics in 2001and after trying wooden barrels and steel tanks and being disappointed with the results, he switched (at a considerable cost) to concrete eggs, because he felt that the controlled aeration they allowed yielded the best results. The actual vineyard 'Les Alpes' is a south-facing vineyard at 450 meters with glacial moraine, limestone and clay soils which have some iron content.









Shown here are the Egg fermenters used by Belluard , these are also used in Sancerre and Chablis.

The wine itself is quite deep lemon / gold, its fresh young aromas are of stone fruit and apple, there is minerality hovering in the background. On tasting it - fresh, clean, meyer lemon and a zesty finish. The acidity keeps the fruit wrapped in freshness and there is a steeliness to this wine that feels taut with energy and briskness. A great aperitif!

Supplied by Caves de Pyrene at a cost of £18.49

Domaine Pierre Frick Chasselas 2009, Alsace France

Domaine Pierre Frick Chasselas 2009 a wine from Alsace in France and unlike many French wines it shows the grape variety - this is quite typical in this region of east France. The wine wass supplied by Caves de Pyrene at a cost of £10.50. This Cave supplies alot of Natural wines and called Vin Naturel which are often organic. Alsace is a dry region of France due to its location and protection from the Vosges mountains, it also often has long warm autumns, these two factors mean that cultivating without the use of many chemicals is not as difficult as in some marginal regions of France where ther is higher rainfall and less late season sun! Biodynamic production is also very popular here, and this is grown under these conditions, in addition no sulphur is used.
Generally alot of the terminology used in Alsace is Germanic, and when examining the history of the region you can see at various points Alsace has been under German rule, and even now the wines are considered to be German with a French twist, or put another way - sweet with a dry finish! 90% of the grapes are white grapes and produce 90% white wine of which about 70% is still white, and the remaining 20% is sparking Cremant.
Chasselas ( pronounced Chass -la) is a grape that is believed to be Swiss in origin but now also grown in France ( Alsace and Loire) as well as Portugal, New Zealand, Germany and Hungary.
The wine is medium gold in colour and when swirled no legs are apparent. Wow is it aromatic - volatile grape and apricot aromas as well as florality, touch of galia melon and slightly cidery appley - and it draws you in.
This is a fresh wine with keen acidity and great fruit expression including green and ripe red apples and apricots followed by a yeasty finish, It is vivacious and fresh - a lovely wine to have as an aperitif! The highly reputable Caves de Pyrene are the suppliers of this wine at £10.50.