Time, lees, and marl

Wines that are patient, precise, and vibrant, born of traditional winemaking methods and a complete trust in the natural process.

Some encounters leave a deeper impression than others. Our meeting with Thomas Jacquin was definitely one of them.

We visited him last February in Cramant, near Arbois. A real cellar, just the way we like them: vaulted, cool, a bit rough around the edges, still under construction in places. Nothing is set in stone; everything is in flux. And above all, everything exudes the essence of living wine.

We tasted directly from the barrel, in a quiet setting, taking our time. Juices still aging, sometimes a bit closed, often very tense, but always full of life. Wines that demand patience, that never seek to seduce immediately, but that already tell a very specific story.

Thomas is a true product of the Jura… with a stint in Burgundy (an apprenticeship at Meursault). Trained notably under Stéphane Tissot, where he spent six years, and later working with Catherine Hannoun and Alice Bouvot, he launched his estate in 2017 on 0.9 hectares, but has recently dedicated himself to it full-time. From the very beginning, his vision has been clear: to intervene as little as possible, allowing the grapes and the terroir to speak for themselves.

Here, there’s no artifice. No fining, no filtration, no sulfur. The whites are pressed and then sent directly to barrels, without settling, for long aging on the lees. He likes to point out that he works “the old-fashioned way.” The reds follow the same approach: minimal extraction, plenty of time, and a constant quest for balance and finesse.

The heart of the estate lies in its Savagnins, planted on the heavy marl soils of Arbois. These wines are very taut in their youth, almost austere at times, but they improve tremendously with age. Clearly, these are wines to wait for… and to earn.

But while we wait for those future standouts, we’re kicking off this year with a wine that’s more immediate and accessible, without ever being simple. His 2023 Poulsard: Thunderous.

A magnificent wine, from the same terroir as his Savagnins, with that very distinct mineral and spicy signature. Hand-destemmed, 3 months of maceration, 18 months of aging in demi-muids. A true infusion of fruit, delicate yet deep, with body, structure, and above all, a lot of energy. A Poulsard for the table, not a gimmick wine.

The quantities are tiny, as is often the case with young, up-and-coming estates. But we are very proud to launch this collaboration with Thomas, and above all, very eager to offer you his Savagnins in the coming months.

Wines that take their time. And that are well worth the wait.