Champ Divin Cotes du Jura Castor 2019

More about Champ Divin

Fabrice and Valerie Closset-Gaziaux are the two intellectual powerhouses behind Champ Divin. An agronomist and an earth scientist, they spent much of their former professional life working to develop sustainable farming practices in Africa, and then helping growers in the Loire develop organic and naturally balanced vineyards for 8 years. In 2008, charmed by the region and its incredible wines, they decided to procure vineyards in what is considered the Jura’s “premier plateau”, South-Revermont.

Fabrice and Valerie make wines that are steeped in the traditions of their adopted home. They make wine in both the oxidative style that is unique to the Jura and as well non-oxidative wines. Both styles are traditional to the Jura with the oxidative wine having much more savory with nutty salty notes that are often wrapped around citrus, honey and stone fruit flavors. The non-oxidative wines are more “typical” in with more floral, fresh fruit and stony minerality but because of the unique terroir and specific clones endemic to the Jura could come from no place else.

While many producers in the Jura fall somewhere stylistically in the rustic camp, Fabric and Valerie are amongst the most meticulous and precise winemakers in the region. First and foremost they farm biodynamically with the goal of producing the most pristine fruit possible. The new cellar was built in 2009, soon after acquiring the vineyards, and is clean, tidy and purpose built ensuring wine that is free of faults without having to resort to additive or preservative except for a tiny bit of sulfur that is added before bottling. Stainless steel vats are housed in the fermentation room and each wine has its own maturation space with different vaults for their barrels of Pinot, Chardonnay, Savagnin and sous voile (oxidative) wines. This is key to ensuring a seamless purity and transparency in all of their cuveés.

Because so much thought and care go into their production their wines are a window into the terroir that they were grown on. Richly fruited, focused, technical and precise with loads of Jurassic acid backbone that support all of their complex flavors. As happy as we are to have them grace our shelves they will not be here for long. Whichever style you go for, the wines are joyous upon release but will age gracefully some for years and decades to come.