Arbois Savagnin 2021 Domaine Sylvain Faudot

The Arbois Savagnin 2021 from Domaine Sylvain Faudot is the most traditional and most Jurassian expression from this vintner of Montigny-lès-Arsures, a village known as the cradle of Vin Jaune. A Savagnin aged under a veil of yeasts using the ancestral method of the Jura, speaking with candour and complexity all that this unique grape knows how to offer at its most profound and characteristic when given time and space to express itself. Fresh walnuts, apple, flowers, full and creamy palate without weakness, held taut by sufficient acidity. Powerful and characterful yet seductive, in a register that does not intimidate curious drinkers.

Terroir and vineyard

The domaine's Savagnin vines are planted on the marly and chalky slopes of Montigny-lès-Arsures and Saint-Cyr-Montmalin, on blue marl soils characteristic of the Jurassian Côte. These blue clays of the Triassic and Liassic periods, rich in minerals, are precisely the origin of the profound, creamy and mineral character that distinguishes traditional Arbois Savagnins from lighter expressions in other communes of the appellation. Savagnin, an autochthonous Jurassian grape of great originality, ripens late and naturally produces musts of incomparable richness in sugars and natural acidity, capable of sustaining long oxidative ageing without losing freshness or balance. Sylvain Faudot tends his vines in organic farming with deep respect for terroir and natural cycles. Harvesting is manual with rigorous selection. Vinification is traditional: fermentation with indigenous yeasts, ageing in oak casks without topping, that is without refilling the barrel to compensate for evaporation. This deliberate absence of topping allows the formation on the wine's surface of a veil of Saccharomyces yeasts, which protects it from harsh oxidation while gradually transmitting the aromas of walnuts, curry and dried apple characteristic of Jurassian style.

Tasting profile

The colour is a deep gold with amber and golden hues, a richness and luminosity that directly reveal the oxidative ageing and natural maturity of the grape. The nose is open and immediately complex: fresh walnuts impose themselves first, accompanied by aromas of dried apple, white flowers, a touch of acacia honey and gentle spices. With aeration, notes of curry, quince paste and roasted almonds progressively enrich this bouquet with an aromatic depth and persistence absolutely remarkable for a Savagnin not classified as Vin Jaune. On the palate, the texture is full and creamy, with natural amplitude and richness that contrast pleasantly with the pronounced acidity that supports and structures the whole without ever allowing the wine to become heavy. The finish is long, complex and persistent, on walnut and spice notes that linger with a nobility and precision characteristic of the region's finest Savagnins.

The domaine

Sylvain Faudot is a passionate vintner established in Montigny-lès-Arsures in the Jura, a village historically renowned as the cradle of Vin Jaune. After studies in oenology and various viticultural experience, he took over the family vineyards in 2003 and patiently built a 6 hectare domaine farmed organically. His range reflects all the diversity and singularity of the Jurassian vineyard: Vin Jaune, Vin de Paille, traditional Savagnin under veil, modern topped Savagnin, Chardonnay, Trousseau and Ploussard, each cuvée vinified separately with precision and respect for the individual plots.

Food pairing

This traditional Savagnin under veil will pair magnificently with classic Jura combinations: chicken with morels in Savagnin cream, 24 month aged Comté, morel tart, crayfish tail gratin or fresh walnuts simply placed beside the glass. It will also be remarkable with foie gras in terrine, chicken roasted in Savagnin or well aged pressed cooked cheese. Served between 12 and 14 °C, lightly chambré, it will reveal all the oxidative complexity, natural richness and absolute nobility of a traditional Savagnin from the Jura signed by one of the most sincere and precise craftsmen of Jurassian viticultural renewal.