Howdy, Intrepid Imbibers! Are you ready for next month's challenge?
For September, I wanted to choose a perfect early-fall wine that you may not be familiar with, so this month’s theme is: JURA RED WINES!
The Jura is a small, cool-climate region in eastern France sandwiched between Burgundy and Switzerland. It’s quite hilly, with vineyards between 820 and 1,310 feet, on limestone and Jurassic marl. While Jura production is dominated by white wines from Chardonnay and Savagnin, the reds are distinctive – light, minerally, floral, earthy – from Poulsard, Trousseau, and a little Pinot Noir. They also make fortified wine, sparkling wine, and a grappa-like spirit there (Macvin du Jura,) a lot of diversity in a little footprint! The whites are fascinating as well – maybe we’ll look to imbibe them in the spring.
You may see the name Arbois on some labels – it is a smaller appellation nestled inside the broader Jura. So, which to choose? Poulsard (or Ploussard) is a bit lighter and more perfumed than Trousseau, which features a bit more structure, with strawberry and savory black tea notes. Either one alone, or in a blend together and/or with Pinot Noir, is a great September sip.
Seek out some Jura red wines this month and let me know what you think!
Cheers.
Comments