Jura White Wine | Domaine du Pélican Savagnin 2024

The creation of Domaine du Pélican Arbois Savagnin "Ouillé" combines Burgundian winemaking discipline with Jura's distinctive terroirs.

Founded in 2012 by Guillaume d’Angerville (owner of the historic Domaine Marquis d’Angerville in Volnay, Burgundy) alongside his estate manager, François Duvivier.

After being stunned by a Jura white in a blind tasting, d’Angerville sought out exceptional vineyard sites around the town of Arbois.

The estate grew quickly through acquisitions of top plots, including lands formerly owned by local winemaking legend Jacques Puffeney (known as the "Pope of Arbois").

The entire 15-hectare domain is farmed strictly using biodynamic and organic viticulture. Soil health is maintained with cover crops, green manure, and tilling by horse/plow to enhance microbial life.

Parcels situated in the appellations of Arbois and Montigny-lès-Arsures. A blend of Triassic and Jurassic marls (grey, blue, and red marl), Liassic marly limestone, and scree topsoil rich in terre de gryphées (fossilized oyster shells). This soil profile gives the wine its intense, razor-sharp mineral line and high natural acidity.

Hand-harvested grapes are sourced primarily from choice plots like "Au Barby" and "Grand Curoulet". Grapes are gently crushed prior to pressing. To add subtle texture and aromatic complexity, roughly one-third of the crop undergoes a cold skin-maceration overnight before being pressed. Native/indigenous yeasts only; fermentation occurs in a mixture of large oak foudres and 500-liter oak casks.

Unlike traditional oxidative Jura whites (aged sous voile under a film of yeast without topping up the barrel), Pélican practices regular topping-up (ouillage). The winemaker periodically tops off the barrel with fresh wine to keep it completely full, eliminating oxygen exposure. The wine is aged for around 10 months in neutral oak vessels (500L casks and foudres, with minimal to no new oak), preserving the fresh profile of the Savagnin grape without masking it in wood flavors.