Domaine Pignier : Vin Jaune 2018

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for the Vin Jaune 2018 from Domaine Pignier

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows an intense golden hue shading toward amber, a testament to the long oxidative aging process.

Nose

The nose is powerful yet refined, dominated by aromas of dried fruits, especially walnut. Citrus notes suggestive of orange and lemon bring freshness. With aeration, complex spicy nuances gradually unfold.

Palate

On the palate, the structure is both powerful and elegant. Walnut character leads the way, joined by pronounced spicy notes that add fine complexity. The finish lingers at length, marked by a distinctive bitterness and a savory minerality that define this wine’s identity.

Food and wine pairings

This Vin Jaune 2018 pairs beautifully with sea fish and shellfish. It also matches well with fish dishes in a white sauce, as well as mushroom dishes enhanced with spices. Poultry in sauce is another excellent pairing. With cheese, opt for well-aged hard cheeses with a pronounced character.

Serving and cellaring

The Vin Jaune 2018 can be enjoyed now and offers excellent aging potential thanks to its structure and extended maturation.

The elegance of a biodynamic Vin Jaune from the Jura

The estate

The Domaine Pignier traces its origins back to the 13th century, when Carthusian monks established the estate in Montaigu. In 1794, following the exile of the clergy during the French Revolution, the Pignier family acquired the property. Today, Jean-Étienne, Antoine and Marie-Florence Pignier, representing the seventh generation, run this thirteen-hectare estate. Pioneers of biodynamics in the Jura, they converted the entire vineyard between 1998 and 2002, obtaining Demeter certification in 2003. The estate stands out for its commitment to preserving ancient grape varieties and for using medieval Gothic cellars to age its wines. Thibaut, Antoine’s son, joined the estate in 2020, ensuring the family’s continuity.

The vineyard

This Vin Jaune Côtes du Jura comes from the En Boivin parcel, located in the Val de Vallière reculée. This five-and-a-half-hectare terroir benefits from northeast and east exposures, on micaceous clay marls from the Lias mixed with sandy limestones from the Bajocian. These soils give Savagnin the mineral finesse and elegance sought. The vineyard, farmed under Demeter-certified biodynamics, is tended with meticulous manual work including hand hoeing, permanent grass cover and the application of biodynamic preparations according to the lunar calendar. The estate also practices massal selection to preserve the old varieties of the Jura.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage was marked by low yields, reflecting the year’s climatic conditions and the natural variability accepted by the estate as part of its non-intervention philosophy.

Vinification and aging

After hand-harvesting at optimal ripeness, the Savagnin for the Vin Jaune 2018 was vinified traditionally in oak barrels. The wine was then aged for seven years without topping up, a technique that allows the natural evaporation of around a third of the initial volume. A veil of indigenous yeasts developed spontaneously on the wine’s surface after six years and three months, protecting the liquid while giving it its characteristic aromas. No yeast inoculation, chaptalization or oenological additives were used. Bottling was carried out according to the biodynamic lunar calendar, on a root day, using natural corks sealed by fire.

Grape variety

100% Savagnin