At a glance

Producer

Bruyère Renaud & Houillon Adeline

Region

Arbois, Jura, France

Grape variety

Chardonnay (possible small amount of Savagnin)

Wine type

White

Body

Light-bodied and Crisp

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

€95-€240/bottle (secondary market, rarity pricing)

Tasting profile

Textural, mineral-driven, notes of citrus oil, bruised apple, saline, light florality, with a subtle oxidative Jura touch and savoury lees influence

Evolution: Will deepen in texture and tertiary complexity; potential for increased nuttiness, honey, dried orchard fruit, and saline intensity

At peak: Full Jura expression with balancing freshness, nutty complexity, and layered minerality

Structure

Acidity

Medium-high, typical for Jura whites

Tannins

None (white wine – possibly faint phenolic grip)

Alcohol

12-13% ABV (approximate, depending on cuvée)

Aging potential

Excellent – 8-12+ years, especially with proper storage

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2024 to 2027

Optimal window

2022 to 2029

Current status

Drinking well now, potential to improve further

Current condition

Mature, vibrant, complex – entering optimal drinking window

The wine is crafted by one of Jura’s most sought-after natural producers, known for low-intervention, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal sulfites. 2018 is a strong, balanced vintage for Jura whites, offering both early drinkability and mid-term cellaring potential. Structure, acidity, and the house's gentle oxidative touch indicate a peak between 2024–2027, with the ability to hold well past this with proper storage.

Food pairing

Comté cheese, Alpine cheeses, hazelnut-butter chicken, roasted seafood, savoury tartes, sushi (toro, unagi), creamy mushroom dishes

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 9/10

Manual vineyard work; cover crops for soil health; NO herbicides/pesticides; native yeasts; little to no added sulfites; gravity-fed cellar; minimalist packaging (often recycled materials, light bottles); small production – low mechanization/low energy use; dry farming (no irrigation); minimal chemical input

Bruyère & Houillon are among Jura’s natural vanguard: organic and biodynamic in all but formal Demeter status, with emphasis on biodiversity, chemical-free farming, soil regeneration, hand harvesting, and ultra-low intervention in winemaking. The minuscule scale, absence of heavy machinery, and conscious packaging reduce environmental impact further. Globally, few producers are more sustainable by philosophy and practice, earning them a near-perfect rating; the only deduction stems from carbon incurred by international shipping for collectors, not at the estate level.