Rolet Tradition Rouge 2022 750ml

FRANCE : JURA : ARBOIS

PRACTICING ORGANIC : Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard

LIGHT-BODIED, RED CHERRY, CRANBERRY, ROSE PETAL, EARTHY MUSHROOM, NEUTRAL OAK

Arbois earned France's very first AOC designation in 1936 — before Bordeaux, before Burgundy — from a stretch of foothills east of Burgundy where red marl soils and mountain elevation produce reds that look almost like rosé and drink like nothing else on the French map. Domaine Rolet, founded in 1942 and now the largest family-owned estate in Jura at 65 hectares, is the gateway wine for this corner of France: consistently made, fairly priced, and genuinely expressive of what Arbois does.

The 2022 Tradition Rouge is 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Trousseau, and 5% Poulsard — each variety vinified separately for 12 months in older foudres (neutral oak) before blending three months before bottling. It's pale, low in tannin, fresh, and earthy in a way that Burgundy rarely is: the Trousseau adds cranberry spice, the Poulsard brings the floral lift, and the Pinot supplies a wild mushroom depth that makes this one of the most food-friendly reds on the shelf. Serve with a 30-minute decant at a light chill.

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