Domaine des Marnes Blanches ‘Les Molates’ Chardonnay 2022
Location: France, Jura
Winemaker: Pauline et Geraud Fromont
Grapes: Chardonnay
Pauline and Geraud Fromont were born and raised in Sud Revermont, the Jura’s southern hive of ambitious, talented winemakers. Less recognizable than the iconic hillside of Arbois, the Sud Revermont is no less productive (the last few years have seen catastrophic losses throughout the Jura region, so “productive” - always a relative term - is, in this case, still minimal).
Pauline and Geraud’s background was in sustenance farming, but they became enthralled by winemaking in their twenties and started the domaine together in 2006. The spirit of the local master Ganevat, their most famous neighbor, informs the wine styles - everything from clean, textural whites, to classic oxidative wines, to fruit-driven light reds, Cremant and sweet wines - however Domaine des Marnes Blanches is a singular estate.
Their fresh whites are some of the most beguiling in the shop: they bear signatures of spring water, fenugreek and patisserie spice along with vibrant fruits of a melon-meets-cucumber subtlety.
The varietal reds manage to be text book ideal and bracingly unique at the same time - the Poulsard bursts with brambly fruit sprinkled with dried citrus and a potpourri of desiccated violets, and the Trousseau (which Geraud maintains is best suited to the domaine’s namesake while marl soils) is both racy and rusty with an appetizing texture and minerality.
The vin de paille is long and perfectly balanced between the deep-cave aromas and salty/sweet taste. It’s crazy good on its own but with some Compte or other hard cheese it is miraculous.
We are so excited to have these back in the shop and to send them home with you!
From the importer Selection Massale: Natives of the Jura, but from farming rather than winemaking backgrounds, Géraud and Pauline Fromont began this Domaine when they were in their mid-20s, and are ambitious, talented young winemakers. They share all vineyard, cellar, and sales duties, and are rising stars in the region.
The Marnes Blanches vineyards are divided between three towns: Cesancey, Vincelles, and Ste-Agnès. The Fromonts acquired their Cesancey vineyards first, and those feature the “white marl” soil that gives the Domaine its name, with topsoil of limestone. The vineyards in Ste-Agnès and Vincelles are primarily red marl, with fossilized limestone. With vines up to 100 years old and interesting local strains such as Melon-Queue-Rouge and Savagnin Muscaté, the Fromonts have excellent material to work with in the cellar. They began farming organically immediately upon beginning the Domaine in 2006 and are now Ecocert certified, with plowing between rows.
As with most Jura producers, the Fromonts make a variety of cuvees ranging from ouillé whites, to sous-voile whites, to Crémants white and rosé, single variety reds, and a delicious vin de paille. They work with all native yeast. Parcels are vinified separately and aged in either stainless steel or neutral cask. Sulfuring is minimal, and they’ve begun tentatively to experiment with sans soufre winemaking.
The Chardonnay expression of the lieu-dit ‘Les Molates’ is the only Chardonnay with a ‘short’ elevage—one year in small foudres. The cuvée is from different parcels on Lias marls around the town of Gevingey.
Location: France, Jura
Winemaker: Pauline et Geraud Fromont
Grapes: Chardonnay
Pauline and Geraud Fromont were born and raised in Sud Revermont, the Jura’s southern hive of ambitious, talented winemakers. Less recognizable than the iconic hillside of Arbois, the Sud Revermont is no less productive (the last few years have seen catastrophic losses throughout the Jura region, so “productive” - always a relative term - is, in this case, still minimal).
Pauline and Geraud’s background was in sustenance farming, but they became enthralled by winemaking in their twenties and started the domaine together in 2006. The spirit of the local master Ganevat, their most famous neighbor, informs the wine styles - everything from clean, textural whites, to classic oxidative wines, to fruit-driven light reds, Cremant and sweet wines - however Domaine des Marnes Blanches is a singular estate.
Their fresh whites are some of the most beguiling in the shop: they bear signatures of spring water, fenugreek and patisserie spice along with vibrant fruits of a melon-meets-cucumber subtlety.
The varietal reds manage to be text book ideal and bracingly unique at the same time - the Poulsard bursts with brambly fruit sprinkled with dried citrus and a potpourri of desiccated violets, and the Trousseau (which Geraud maintains is best suited to the domaine’s namesake while marl soils) is both racy and rusty with an appetizing texture and minerality.
The vin de paille is long and perfectly balanced between the deep-cave aromas and salty/sweet taste. It’s crazy good on its own but with some Compte or other hard cheese it is miraculous.
We are so excited to have these back in the shop and to send them home with you!
From the importer Selection Massale: Natives of the Jura, but from farming rather than winemaking backgrounds, Géraud and Pauline Fromont began this Domaine when they were in their mid-20s, and are ambitious, talented young winemakers. They share all vineyard, cellar, and sales duties, and are rising stars in the region.
The Marnes Blanches vineyards are divided between three towns: Cesancey, Vincelles, and Ste-Agnès. The Fromonts acquired their Cesancey vineyards first, and those feature the “white marl” soil that gives the Domaine its name, with topsoil of limestone. The vineyards in Ste-Agnès and Vincelles are primarily red marl, with fossilized limestone. With vines up to 100 years old and interesting local strains such as Melon-Queue-Rouge and Savagnin Muscaté, the Fromonts have excellent material to work with in the cellar. They began farming organically immediately upon beginning the Domaine in 2006 and are now Ecocert certified, with plowing between rows.
As with most Jura producers, the Fromonts make a variety of cuvees ranging from ouillé whites, to sous-voile whites, to Crémants white and rosé, single variety reds, and a delicious vin de paille. They work with all native yeast. Parcels are vinified separately and aged in either stainless steel or neutral cask. Sulfuring is minimal, and they’ve begun tentatively to experiment with sans soufre winemaking.
The Chardonnay expression of the lieu-dit ‘Les Molates’ is the only Chardonnay with a ‘short’ elevage—one year in small foudres. The cuvée is from different parcels on Lias marls around the town of Gevingey.
Location: France, Jura
Winemaker: Pauline et Geraud Fromont
Grapes: Chardonnay
Pauline and Geraud Fromont were born and raised in Sud Revermont, the Jura’s southern hive of ambitious, talented winemakers. Less recognizable than the iconic hillside of Arbois, the Sud Revermont is no less productive (the last few years have seen catastrophic losses throughout the Jura region, so “productive” - always a relative term - is, in this case, still minimal).
Pauline and Geraud’s background was in sustenance farming, but they became enthralled by winemaking in their twenties and started the domaine together in 2006. The spirit of the local master Ganevat, their most famous neighbor, informs the wine styles - everything from clean, textural whites, to classic oxidative wines, to fruit-driven light reds, Cremant and sweet wines - however Domaine des Marnes Blanches is a singular estate.
Their fresh whites are some of the most beguiling in the shop: they bear signatures of spring water, fenugreek and patisserie spice along with vibrant fruits of a melon-meets-cucumber subtlety.
The varietal reds manage to be text book ideal and bracingly unique at the same time - the Poulsard bursts with brambly fruit sprinkled with dried citrus and a potpourri of desiccated violets, and the Trousseau (which Geraud maintains is best suited to the domaine’s namesake while marl soils) is both racy and rusty with an appetizing texture and minerality.
The vin de paille is long and perfectly balanced between the deep-cave aromas and salty/sweet taste. It’s crazy good on its own but with some Compte or other hard cheese it is miraculous.
We are so excited to have these back in the shop and to send them home with you!
From the importer Selection Massale: Natives of the Jura, but from farming rather than winemaking backgrounds, Géraud and Pauline Fromont began this Domaine when they were in their mid-20s, and are ambitious, talented young winemakers. They share all vineyard, cellar, and sales duties, and are rising stars in the region.
The Marnes Blanches vineyards are divided between three towns: Cesancey, Vincelles, and Ste-Agnès. The Fromonts acquired their Cesancey vineyards first, and those feature the “white marl” soil that gives the Domaine its name, with topsoil of limestone. The vineyards in Ste-Agnès and Vincelles are primarily red marl, with fossilized limestone. With vines up to 100 years old and interesting local strains such as Melon-Queue-Rouge and Savagnin Muscaté, the Fromonts have excellent material to work with in the cellar. They began farming organically immediately upon beginning the Domaine in 2006 and are now Ecocert certified, with plowing between rows.
As with most Jura producers, the Fromonts make a variety of cuvees ranging from ouillé whites, to sous-voile whites, to Crémants white and rosé, single variety reds, and a delicious vin de paille. They work with all native yeast. Parcels are vinified separately and aged in either stainless steel or neutral cask. Sulfuring is minimal, and they’ve begun tentatively to experiment with sans soufre winemaking.
The Chardonnay expression of the lieu-dit ‘Les Molates’ is the only Chardonnay with a ‘short’ elevage—one year in small foudres. The cuvée is from different parcels on Lias marls around the town of Gevingey.