Around Lons-le-Saunier

Château-Chalon, Etoile and the southern Côtes du Jura
By Wink Lorch

This Guide was last updated on 19 August 2011
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Wine producers to visit

Domaine Jean-François Ganevat

Address: La Combe, 39190 Rotalier
Tel: 03 84 25 02 69 
Geo-coordinates:  Latitude: 46:35:4N (46.58436)    Longitude: 5:28:20E (5.47222) 

The almost silent hamlet of La Combe seems lost in a valley below the main village of Rotalier – on many visits there, I have never seen a living soul apart from the larger-than-life Jean-François (plus dog) and sometimes his father. Jean-François came back to run the domaine in 1998 after ten years in Burgundy with Domaine Morey and he combines a fierce of love of his Jura terroir – here ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - with a staunch defence of Burgundian techniques, low yields and most recently biodynamic methods for which he has now gained Demeter certification. His Pinot Noir is excellent though sells out fast, and, like Labet up the road, he focuses on terroir-specific Chardonnays, fermented and aged in barrel. His non-oxidative Savagnin can be superb too. And, look out for tiny quantities of weird and wonderful sweet wines. He works with very low SO2 levels.

Useful information: Appointment essential (call Jean-François on 06 74 45 70 41). A little English spoken.