From the Marquis d’Angerville (of Burgundy fame), Domaine du Pélican’s savignan ouillé is a very good wine from the 2018 vintage. Some interpretation is required for those less familiar with Jura wine labels. Savignan is also known as traminer (related, but different to gewurtztraminer) and is the speciality white of the Jura region of France. It was also the source of a brief confusion in Australia, when vines thought to be albariño proved, in fact, to be savignan. Further discussion of this issue is available on Jancis Robinson’s website here. I wonder if the same problem would have arisen in 2021, in light of the continuing growth of international interest in Jura’s wines? Ouillé simply means the barrels are topped up, in that the wine is made as a normal white wine with limited exposure to oxygen in contradistinction to other styles made in the Jura region. Arbois is a sub region of Jura. Wine-Searcher has a good summary here.
In the glass, the wine is a yellow gold in colour and has refined aromas of minerals, stones and a saline nuttiness. The minerally character has a passing resemblance to Chablis. Interesting notes of cumquat emerge with time in the glass. The palate is dry with high acidity and a full body. The alcohol higher is a little higher than expected, weighing in at 14.5. This is perhaps a function of the warm 2018 vintage, but it does not detract from the wine and adds weight to its body. I did not find details of the winemaker’s oak regimen, but the wine tastes as though it has spent some time in mostly old oak. There is good length on the finish (15 seconds plus) and the wine is balanced. Overall, this wine is drinking well now and will suit drinking over the next three to five years. Rating: Very Good. Website: Producer; Vivino; Wine-Searcher. Reviewed: September 2021.
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