Cavarodes Arbois Poulsard de Chemenot 2020

Etienne Thiebaud founded Domaine des Cavarodes in 2007 in Cramans, in the Jura, after training in Burgundy and working at Domaine de la Tournelle. His natural winemaking has earned a following well beyond the region. This is a single-vineyard Poulsard from Chemenot, one of the palest of red grapes, which produces light-bodied, translucent wines built more on aroma and acidity than on colour or tannin. The Jura sits in a cool, continental setting, and its clay and limestone marl soils give the wine its lift, its salinity and its delicate frame. Farming is organic and the wine is made without additions, then aged twelve months in foudres, large old oak casks that shape the texture gently and add no oak flavour. The colour is a very pale ruby, almost rosé in tone. The nose is delicate and floral, with red berries, cherry, rose and a dried-herb, earthy edge. The palate is light and fresh, with barely-there tannins, red-currant acidity and a clean, saline finish. Serve at 13 to 14 degrees, with a light chill. It works with poultry, salmon and mushroom dishes.