Domaine des Marnes Blanches, Sainte Agnès
Géraud and Pauline Fromont are two brilliant winemakers who met in viticulture school 2006 when they were in their early 20’s. Just two years after their first glance at each other, they realized their dreams and bought a vineyard in Cesancey, southern Jura.
The region was quite a natural choice for the two natives of the Jura – considering everything this land has to offer. Domaine des Marnes Blanches is named after the white marl found in the first vineyard they purchased. Today they have 10 hectares in total spread out on three villages: Cesancey, Vincelles and Sainte Agnès.
They work hard making a wide range of wines consisting of both traditional Jura style oxidized whites and topped up modern reds, macvin, vin de paille and marc. On top of it all they have 3 small children to take care of.
Their topped up whites ‘ouillé’ are labeled ‘Reflet’. Those are elegant and mineral with lots of energy and intense fruit. The non-topped up ones ‘sous voile’ are labelled ‘Empreinte’ and shine with intense ripe fruit along with typical nutty notes and a racy, salty mineral finish. Their reds are light, refined, refreshing and floral.
2020 Crémant du Jura
Soil: ‘Lias’ marl(grey/pink) with a limestone topsoil, from ‘Les Molates’ vineyard, Sainte Agnès.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1983
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and ageing over the winter in stainless steel tanks.
In March 2021 it was put into bottle for a second fermentation, and then aged on the lees for 24 months before disgorgement. 2 grams dosage.
2020 Crémant Réserve du Jura
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from Cesancey
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1983
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and ageing over the winter in old oak. In April 2021 it was put into bottle for a second fermentation, and then aged on the lees for 30 months before disgorgement. Zero dosage.
2022 Chardonnay ’Les Molates’
Soil: ‘Lias’ marl (grey/pink) with a limestone topsoil, from Sainte Agnès.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1982
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 10 months in 225-liter old oak barrels before bottling.
2020, 2021 Chardonnay ‘En Quatre Vis’
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from Cesancey.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1943-2011
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 22 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
2020 Chardonnay ’En Levrette’
Soil: Limestone with high content of fossil, from Vincelles.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1963
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 22 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
2020 Chardonnay ’Les Normins’
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from Vincelles.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1958
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 22 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added
2022 Savagnin ’Les Molates’
Soil: Red and brown marl with a limestone topsoil, from Sainte Agnès.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1995
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and then aged for 11 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling.
2022 Savagnin ’En Quatre Vis’
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from Cesancey vineyard.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1958
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 11 months in 225 liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
2020 Savagnin ‘Aux Bois’
Soil: Limestone with high content of fossil, from Vincelles.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 2012
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 22 months in 225 liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
2022 Savagnin ’En Jensillard’
Soil: Limestone with high content of fossil, from Vincelles.
Grape: Savagnin Jaune (an old variety also known as ‘Red Savagnin’)
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1962
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and then aged for 11 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling.
2018 Chardonnay Sous Voile
Soil: Red and brown marl with a limestone topsoil, from Saint Agnès
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted 1982
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and ageing 36 months on barrels without topping up to receive the traditional, oxidative style. No sulphur added.
2018 Savagnin Sous Voile
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from all 3 villages.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted 1956-1976
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and ageing 48 months on barrels without topping up to receive the traditional, oxidative style. No sulphur added.
2022 Maceration ’En Quatre Vis’
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil, from Cesancey vineyard.
Grape: 80% Cahrdonnay 20% Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted 1943-1958
Vinification: 15 days of skinmaceration without extraction before pressing and then continuous fermentation and ageing 11 months in 225 liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
2022 Les Fouilles
Soil: Red and white marl with limestone topsoil
Grape: 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Trousseau, 30% Poulsard
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1960
Vinification: Wholebunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225 liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.
2022 Poulsard
Soil: Red and white marl with limestone topsoil, from Vincelles and Sainte Agnès.
Grape: Poulsard
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1978
Vinification: Wholebunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225 liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.
2022 Trousseau
Soil: Red and white marl, with limestone topsoil, from Vincelles and Cesancey
Grape: Trousseau
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1973-2015
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225 liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.
2020 Pinot Noir
Soil: Red marl with a limestone topsoil, from Cesansey
Grape: Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1983
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225 liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.
2016 Vin Jaune
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil.
Grape: 60% Savagnin, 40% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Vin Jaune du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1958
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and then ageing under flor (no topping up around) for 7 years in 225 liter old oak barrels, before bottling. No sulphur added.
NV Macvin Blanc
Soil: White marl with a limestone topsoil.
Grape: 50% Savagnin, 50% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Macvin du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1958
Vinification: Direct press before blending the pure, unfermented juice with 1/3 of white marc. Then they put this drink on 225-liter old oak barrels for 2 years before bottling.
2019 Vin de Paille
Soil: Red and brown marl with a limestone topsoil, from Sainte Agnès.
Grape: Savagnin, Chardonnay & Poulsard
Appellation AOC Côtes du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted 1978-1995
Vinification: 5 months drying on straw mats before slow pressing and long fermentation in old oak barrels. Ageing in old barrels for 36 months before bottling. Residual sugar 120 grams.
Marc
Their Marc is made with Jensillard Savagnin, has been aged in glass and it is distilled in a small pot still in one of their neighbouring villages. Domaine des Marnes Blanches Marc comes in a 70 cl bottle and has an ABV of 50 %.
Negociant (Grapes bought by friends working organically)
2022 Bulle ton body
Soil: Limestone, Alsace
Grape: 50% Pinot Blanc, 50% Auxerrois
Appellation: Vdf
Age of Vines: Planted 1978
Vinification: Directpress and fermentation in tank. Bottled with 21 grams of sugar in October 2022. Degorced June 2023.
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2022 Rabbit
Soil: Yellow marl, Savoie
Grape: Jaquère
Appellation: Vdf
Age of Vines: Planted 1990
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 10 months in concrete eggs, before bottling.
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2022 Monkey
Soil: Limestone, Alsace
Grape: 50% Pinot Blanc, 50% Auxerrois
Appellation: Vdf
Age of Vines: Planted 1978
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation, followed by ageing 10 months in 225-liter old oak barrels, before bottling
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2022 Zeus
Soil: Clay & limestone from Southern Rhône
Grape: Grenache
Appellation: Vdf
Age of Vines: Planted 1987
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225-liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.
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2022 Dionysos
Soil: Granit, Beaujolais
Grape: Gamay
Appellation: Vdf
Age of Vines: Planted 1983
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation for 15 days in stainless steel tanks. Careful pressing and then put into 225-liter old oak barrels for ageing 10 months. No sulphur added.