Jimmy's Jura

Join us for a fascinating tasting on the fantastic and emerging little-known region of Jura in eastern France. This really is rural France, with the stunning backdrop of the Alps and beautiful scenery boasting a collection of serene lakes. This is the Franche-Comté, land of the Montbéliarde cow, the only cattle permitted for the production of delicious Comté cheese.

On top of all of this we have a plenitude of unique and diverse wine produced, completely different to anything else in the whole world. Jimmy Smith, founder of West London Wine School and co-owner of South London Wine School, visits the region frequently and out of all his travels this region stands out as the most unique – the most weird and wonderful.

As a special treat we’ll also taste a cult-wine from Domaine Ganevat!

JURA

Jura as a whole region only boasts a little over 2000 hectares (the next nearest this is Alsace with 15,000 hectares) so this is a drop in the French ocean of wine. Some of the most famous wines from here have a distinctive edge to them as they will go through some maturation 'sous-voile' meaning underneath a layer of yeast, similar to that of Sherry, though not fortified. This adds a wealth of depth and flavour including unique kernel notes such as walnut and almond.

In addition Jimmy will turn the spotlight onto the newcomers to the region who are moving away from the traditional styles of Jura by utilising varieties such as Savagnin and Chardonnay but not under yeast (sous-voile) but as an 'ouille' style (topping-up the barrel). This art of topping up ensures limited/no oxidation therefore keeping the wines fresher and lively. The result is an emergence of juicy, mouth-watering wines which really were an absolute delight to taste and indulge in on his most recent visit to Jura. We'll also see how these 'movers and shakers' are producing deliciously drinkable red wines from the Ploussard and Trousseau varieties too.

Wines on Tasting:

• Cremant du Jura TBC

• Domaine Berthet-Bondet, Savagnier, Cotes du Jura, 2017 (Savagnin)

• Peggy et Jean-Pascal Buronfosse, Belemnites, 2019 (Savagnin - Chardonnay)

• Domaine de Saint-Pierre, Chateau Renard, Arbois, 2018 (Chardonnay)

• Peggy et Jean-Pascal Buronfosse, L'Hopital, 2020 (Trousseau)

• Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat, Le Jaja du Fred, 2018 (Pinot Noir)

• Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat, La Croix des Batailles, 2019 (Gamay, Chardonnay)

• Domaine Berthet-Bondet, Chateau Chalon, 2014 (Savagnin)

Please note gates will open 30 minutes before the start of the class.