Domaine de Saint Pierre, Arbois
Fabrice Dodane started out with making white wines from 5 hectares in Mathenay, just 8 kilometers west of Arbois in 1989, but was working then for another grower. Before he moved here he worked for a few years as a winemaker at the co-op in Pupillin.
In 2002 he gave up chemicals and has been certified organic since 2008. In 2011 he took over the Domaine and since 2012 he’s been working with very small doses of sulphur or no sulphur at all and works in general with a very natural approach in the winery.
Today he has 7,5 hectares, growing mostly Chardonnay and Savagnin, but also a small proportion of Ploussard and Pinot Noir. In 2007 Fabrice bought 2 small parcels just outside of Arbois, 5 kilometers from Mathenay. Here the soils are richer in clay than the soils in Mathenay, and he makes 2 red wines from here.
For the white wines he makes both ‘ouillé’ (topped-up) and ’sous voile’ (non-topped). The ’ouillé’ are ”Burgundian style” with fresh, balanced acidity and a racy salty minerality. The non-topped up ones ‘sous voile’ are intense with ripe yellow fruit along with typical nutty notes together with that fresh acidity and racy, salty mineral finish. His reds are light, red-fruity, aromatic and flirty.
2021 Le dos d’Chat Riesling Negociant
Soil: Limestone, from Alsace
Grape: Riesling
Appellation: VDF
Age of Vines: Planted 1990
Vinification: Direct press before fermented and aged in old oak barrels until bottling September 2022. The grapes in this cuvée was bought from a friend that works biodynamically to cover the loss he has suffered the last 7 years.
2021 Le dos d’Chat Gewûrtztraminer macération Negociant
Soil: Limestone
Grape: Gewûrttraminer
Appellation: VDF
Age of Vines: Planted 1985
Vinification: 100% destemmed grapes that had 2 days maceration with the skins in open vats, before gentle pressing and continuously fermentation and ageing for 11 months in old oak barrels and stainless steel tanks before bottling. The grapes in this cuvée were bought from a friend that works biodynamically to cover the loss he has suffered during the past 7 years.
2019 Le Blanc (Also in MGN bottle)
Soil: Chalk and clay, south to south-east exposition.
Grape: 60% Savagnin 40% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted 1967-1988
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and ageing for 36 months in 500 liter old oak barrels, before bottling. In 2019 Fabrice had so low yields that he had to mix all his all his green grapes from various vineyards to be able to make 1 white wine (2000 litres in total),
so this wine reflects all parcels he works with.
2020 Les Dalles (Also in MGN bottle)
Soil: Limestone and white marl, east exposition
Grape: Melon-Rouge-Qeue
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted 2017
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and then aged for 12 months in 2000 l old oak barrels before bottling.
2020 Chateau Renard (Also in MGN bottle)
Soil: Limestone and clay, east exposition.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted 1985
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and then aged for 22 months in 500 and 600 l old oak barrels, before bottling.
2020 Les Brulées (Also in MGN bottle)
Soil: Chalk and clay, south to south-east exposition.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted 1985
Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and then aged for 22 months in 500 l old oak barrels before bottling.
2021 Le Rouge
Soil: Limestone and clay, from all 4 red wine terroirs.
Grape: 90% Pinot Noir 10% Ploussard
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted 1981-1986
Vinification: 20 days maceration with the skins in open vats, partly whole clusters for the Poulssard, the Pinot Noir is 100% destemmed, before gentle pressing and continuous fermentation. Aged for 11 months in old oak barrels before bottling.
2021 Le dos d’Chat G.G Negociant
Soil: Granite, from Beaujolais
Grape: Gamay
Appellation: VDF
Age of Vines: Planted 1985-1995
Vinification: 14 days maceration with the skins in open vats, partly whole clusters, before gentle pressing and continuousl fermentation. Aged for 11 months in old oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks before bottling. The grapes in this cuvée were bought from a friend that works biodynamically to cover the loss he has suffered during the past 7 years.