JURA GEMS + PLENTY OF PATAILLE šŸ’«

by Megan Jones

Hey you lovely lot,

Fionn on a Tuesday and currently stuck in traffic on the commute. I thought Iā€™d cheer up on the overcrowded top deck with a quick mailer about whatā€™s fresh. Letā€™s see how far I getā€¦

Over the weekend, we had some Labet drop (still a few reds hanging around), but what might have gotten lost in the sauce is a little restock on some less hyped producers. The newĀ GahierĀ bottles are seriously limited, but luckily for both you and I, theyā€™re priced pretty keenly given the quality. This guyā€™s been quietly producing top-tier wine for years and the hype is finally catching up if the quantities received are anything to go by. Weā€™ve got a few different Trousseau to get stuck into, whilst the whites are serious and cellar-worthy.Ā Yellow wineĀ just ā€˜cos.

We also got some Crinquand back in. The CV reads like a dream. Bornard + St Pierre to name but a few. TheĀ redĀ is lithe and lifted whilst the newĀ SavagninĀ is textured and saline.

Oh, and donā€™t sleep onĀ La Grappaā€™a. Despite only a few vintages under their belt, these wines are impressively polished. Iā€™m guessing itā€™s all that gorgeous fruit they've been growing for years. Thankfully, their contracts have expired so the local co-op canā€™t blend it away anymore. The whites are accomplished and theĀ PloussardĀ flows like only good Ploussard can. The whole range is chefā€™s kiss.

What else? Upon entering the warehouse I was delighted to find a great big stack ofĀ Pataille. New stuff, restocks, and plenty of deliciousness to be had. Pataille doinā€™ the Pataille thing with some more single-site AligotĆ©.Ā ThisĀ is from 72-year-old vines facing nicely southwest, still very fresh with lots of those minerals. Then thereā€™sĀ thisĀ from 100-year-old vines. A bit broader, I would forgive you for thinkinā€™ weā€™re in Chardy land if you got served this blind. Both are pristine examples of how good the grape can be. If you need to be acquainted with the house style and why Sylvain is rightly considered the master of the grapeĀ see here.

Another laughably good ā€˜village levelā€™ wine is theĀ Marsannay Blanc. Iā€™m going all in on this now as itā€™s entering the sweet spot where freshness meets full fruit.Ā ThisĀ is what Iā€™m saving up for though, the most sought-after and accomplished of the Chardonnay offering. The pick of the bunch from a cellar quite literally overflowing with class.

Finally, this weekend weā€™ll be throwing Lawrence Barrow into the Ken's hot house for a scintillating weekend of his concept, Hearth & Tine. Lawrence draws on worldly experience, with stints in Tuscany, Melbourne and NZ complimenting his spells heading up the kitchens at 12:51 and Elodie in London. Hearth & Tine aims to champion Irish produce and ingredients. Showcasing these ingredients in an interesting way with a focus on open-fire cooking, fermentation and foraging. I'm hungry. I had the pleasure of dining at Kenā€™s last week and lets just say the cellar is STACKED. Itā€™s very much full of hard to get and allocated things at very fair prices atm. Reservations are now live albeit in scarce supply for Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd.Ā Do your thing.
Thatā€™s all folks,

LYSM

Fionn

xoxo