Domaine Jean MACLE

Domaine Macle - VignArtea

JURA    30 ha    NON CERIFIED ORGANIC CULTURE    WINEMAKER: MACLE's family



ESTATE HISTORY


On the Jean Macle's estate, time has no effect. It is passing gently over the centuries, almost two centuries, during which the Château-Chalon cornice proudly wears the old walls of this cellar.

Since 1850, wine has been made there, and the family MACLE takes its time to do it. It is also one of the last Jura estate to practice traditional vinification, that is to say without thermo-regulation during fermentations.

Laurent, the son of Jean MACLE, takes care of the 12 hectares of vines with perseverance, braving the 45% of some parcel's slope : 8 ha are devoted to the Chardonnay, and 4 ha to the Savagnin, a grape variety mainly intended for the elaboration of this so famous and so intense wine: the vin jaune, formerly known as Vin de Garde, or the Château-Chalon.

Well protected from the cold winds by the summit cornice which tempers the night freshness thanks to the heat stored by its rock and the one reflected by the calcareous scree's soil, the more than 60 years old vines enjoy a maximum of sunshine ensured by the important parcels slope.

The MACLE family does not use phytosanitary products, it limits the vines yield by a short pruning called double Guyot which favors a good aeration of the bunches and avoids the cryptogamic diseases spread. Organic Agriculture certification is underway with certification foreseen in 2020.



WINEGROWING & WINEMAKING


The fermentations start spontaneously, without thermo-regulation, under the impulse of the native yeasts which populate the cellar. These yeasts are what the estate has most precious: without them, no spontaneous fermentation or veil. This is why the 228-liter barrels used to age wines are not changed: they are all 60 years old and have only received savagnin and chardonnay musts. Aligned on three levels of shelves, they are never cleaned between two farms, but just returned, with the bung directed downwards to allow the residual juice to flow. These old barrels are the natural and precious habitat of an ever more active yeast population, guaranteeing a successful fermentation and a good catch of veil for the oxidative ageing.

The grapes destined for the Château-chalon production are vinified separately from those destined for the Côtes-du-Jura wines; they are aged for three years in 228L barrels for the Côtes-du-Jura wines, and at least 6 years and 3 months for the vin jaune, as required by the designation. But for both types of wine, there is no topping (headspace of air between wine and the top of the container is never filled in with young wine). The wine range is short, the estate offers the vin jaune, two wines of Côtes-du-Jura without topping, the first being a 100% Chardonnay and the second a blend of Chardonnay (majority) and Savagnin, without forgetting the MacVin.

The consistent quality of the wines produced has made the historical reputation of this estate.


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