Former head winemaker of Jean-Marc Morey in Chassagne-Montrachet, Jean-François Gavenat has become one of the most talented winemakers in the Jura since he took over his family estate in 1998. Located in Rotalier in the hamlet of La Combe, the vineyard spans 13 hectares and includes many different grape varieties. Gavenat has a natural and biodynamic approach (without certification) and produces some single vineyard wines (the estate boasts 50 different cuvées). The vines are relatively old and meticulously cared for. The yields are low and the vinifcations gentle. Some of the reds are matured in amphorae are of a very high quality.
The property’s grande cuvée is Les Vignes de mon Père, a Savagnin aged for ten years.
Jean-François Gavenat has also set up a small négociant business with his wife under the name ‘Anne et Jean-François Ganevat’, which allows him to produce and offer even more wines to the world. This estate has played an important part in increasing the popularity of wines from the Jura. Production is small and the wines are prized by wine lovers all over.

The Côtes du Jura appellation carries a centuries-old tradition of working with Savagnin, the iconic grape of the Jura. Rooted in grey marl soils of the Lias formation, the vines flourish on a terroir that imparts saline minerality, vibrant energy, purity and tension to the Privilège cuvée. Grapes are hand-harvested, vinified without added sulphur and fermented with native yeasts. The wine is aged for about two years without fining or filtration, preserving the integrity of both fruit and terroir.
In the glass, the wine reveals a beautiful pale yellow hue. The nose is powerful and mineral-driven, with white fruit, hints of candied pear, fresh hazelnut and a subtle saline freshness that speaks of its Jura origins. On the palate, the wine is ample, rich and lively, carried by vibrant acidity. A fine saline texture underscores the precision of the ageing, leading to a long, persistent finish.