Francois Rousset Martin Terres Blanches Chardonnay 2018

François Rousset is producing some of the most captivating wines in the Jura right now, of that there is no doubt. François grew up in Burgundy where his father was a micro-biologist for the Hospices de Beaune, but he spent a lot of his childhood visiting the Jura getting to know a parcel of family vines which he would later vinify with his father, belonging to his Grandfather. After gaining his oenology degree he returned to his Jura roots and in 2006 launched his winery. 

One of the most exciting things about Domaine Rousset-Martin, is the location of François' vineyards. They lie in the exclusive region of Château Chalon - known for the famed Vin Jaune wines. But rather than following the general trends, François makes his wine in a non-oxidative style (ouillé or topped-up), labelled as Côtes du Jura, (although he does make a Vin Jaune, too!).  He vinifies parcel by parcel (farming is organic-certified) with little to no sulphur and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wines are complex and very concentrated, falling somewhere along the spectrum of floral, delicate and exotic and rich.

They are somewhat reminiscent of the Ganevat and Labet wines with the same laser-like acidity and tension but allied to serious concentration and depth. Freshness, clarity, precision and persistence are their hallmarks.