Joseph Dorbon, Vadans

Joseph Dorbon started making wine in 1989 from 2 hectares on the slope above Vadans, just 5 kilometers west of Arbois. His father was farming these 2 hectares before him, but didn’t bottle the wines under his own label, all was sold in bulk. The vineyard was planted by his grandfather in 1937 and 1957.

Farming has always been done using the best ecological practices, and he makes the wines in a very traditional way, leaving them in his ancient cellar under flor for a long time before bottling and selling them. He’s the only guy in the village making wine, so if you want to try out ‘Vadans-terroir’, this is your choice.

All his white wines are non-topped up ones (‘sous voile’) and are elegant, salty with a backbone of delicious intense fruit and refreshing acidity.

2017, 2018 Cuvée des Moyne Vielles Vignes

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted in 1937

Vinification 2018: Direct press before fermentation on stainless steel over the winter and then aged for 3 years under flor in 500 liter old oak barrels before bottling.
Vinification 2017: Direct press before fermentation on stainless steel over the winter and then aged for 3,5 years without the occurence of flor in 500 liter old oak barrels before bottling. This is the only year that the yeast veil did not appear!

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2011 Savagnin

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted in 1957

Vinification: Direct press before fermentation and then aged for 6 years under flor in 500 liter old oak barrels before bottling.

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2012 Vin Jaune

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: Savagnin
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted in 1957

Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and then aged for 7 years under flor in 500 liter old oak barrels before bottling.

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2018 Trousseau Vielles Vignes

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: Trousseau
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted in 1957

Vinification: Destemmed followed by fermentation on the skins for 3 weeks before pressing. Aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

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2020 Les Bernadines

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: 60% Poulsard 40% Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOC Arbois
Age of Vines: Planted in 1957

Vinification: Destemmed followed by fermentation on the skins for 3 weeks before pressing. Aged for 1 year in stainless steel tanks and 1 year in old oak before bottling.

Soil: Limestone and yellow marl, south exposition.
Grape: 1/3 Chardonnay 1/3 Savagnin from 2005 vintage 1/3 Marc from 2003 vintage
Appellation: AOC Macvin du Jura
Age of Vines: Planted in 1937 and 1957

Vinification: Direct press of the grapes before blending with the 2 years barrel aged marc. This unfermented ‘drink’ is then aged 9 years in old barriques before bottling.