Arbois Chardonnay Le Clos de la Tour de Curon Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot 2014

Lot presentation

Arbois Chardonnay Le Clos de la Tour de Curon Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot 2014

The wine

“Le Clos de la Tour de Curon” is exceptional in more ways than one. Firstly due to its stony limestone terroir that Stéphane Tissot restored from wasteland, planting Chardonnay in 2002 at a density of 12,000 vines per hectare; the only example of this planting in France. The resulting wine has an immense concentration with phenomenal length, on a par with the Burgundian Grand Crus. A superb, unique white wine with great cellaring potential (up to 15 years).

The domain might still carry the name of his parents, but Stéphane Tissot (and his wife Bénédicte) took over the family business over 20 years ago. In 1995, Stéphane began to reduce the amount of fertiliser so as to pave the way for organic viticulture. Around this time he also stopped using chemical herbicides altogether. In 1999, the then 28 hectares (now 46 hectares) became entirely organic and, after a few years, the whole domain became biodynamic in 2004 (Demeter certification). Stéphane's hard work has transformed the quality of the grapes. With such good quality fruit, vinifications are relatively easy and require very little intervention. Natural yeasts are used in fermentation and a very small amount of sulphites are added, nothing else. The end result is an excellent expression of terroir with intense aromas. Stéphane's quest to convey his many different terroirs has led him to produce nearly 50 different cuvées from many different grape varieties using various vinification methods. For example, for the Savagnin, a variety typical of the Jura, the property produces wines with and without oxidation (i.e. topping up of the barrels) and vin jaune. This domain is at its zenith and is one of the Jura's (and iDealwine's) best kept secrets.