The Gamay from Coup du Jus shows just how good a négociant wine from the Jura can be!

A Delicious Look at Coup de Jus: Pauline & Geraud Fromont's Stunning Pair of Négociant Wines0 (plus the hardly-seen sparklings from Marnes Blanches) ... and more!

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Marnes Blanches produces world-class wines from their estate-grown Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot… but the winemakers also produce fantastic bottles of Grenache and Gamay, with fruit sourced from colleagues outside of the Jura. Like lots of Jura producers, Pauline and Geraud Fromont, of Marnes Blanches, are hopping over their AOC-line and buying organic grapes to supplement their own crop. This type of business is nothing new, but the practice is becoming increasingly popular as Jura vintages become more difficult and farmers are yielding less grapes of their own. Most recently, we were proud to highlight the amazing négociant wines from Fabrice Dodane, of Domaine Saint-Pierre, known as Dos Chats. Fabrice’s Syrah from the Northern Rhone was irresistible - and now gone. Today, we’re focused on Pauline and Geraud’s Coup de Jus label. The Gamay (named Dionysus IsOnFire) and the Grenache (named Zeus GoWild) are seriously delicious wines - drinkable and evocative, just like the Fromont’s Marnes Blanches reds.

In the glass, the 2020 Dionysus Gamay is a clear dark cherry in color. On the nose, a mix of fragrant red berry and black plum supports fresh herbal tones and savory spices, like airy dashes of cumin, paprika, and black pepper. As the wine opens up, more elegant smells of espresso and red flowers appear. A lovely, delicate juiciness floats on the tongue, with flavors of ripe plum, orange zest, and a touch of clove. The fruit lingers on the finish and a hint of black tea wraps up the sip. With just a hint of tannin, a semi-plump middle, and balanced acidity, this Gamay displays incredibly satisfying structure. Resist drinking this too fast - patience will reward you with an extremely expressive wine!

The 2020 Zeus Grenache has a similar color to the Dionysus Gamay, though showing a bit more red in the glass. Aromatically, this wine carries some of the gruff one might expect from Grenache - with whispers of fennel seed, provencal herbs, and a lingering smoke. Still, it also shows the character of a Jura red, with high-toned red fruit and hibiscus. There is a softness to the palate. Notes of cherry and slim apricot leading to a finish just slightly earthy, with a kiss of minerally iron and earl grey. A light swish in the mouth, with very fine tannin, this wine’s texture echoes the beautiful lift of a Jura Trousseau.

Alongside these exceptional négociant wines, we're also offering our customers a chance to stock up on the Fromont's two sparklings from Marnes Blanches: the Crémant du Jura and the Crémant du Jura Reserve. Long a pillar of production in the region, sparkling makes up about a quarter of the Jura's annual output, and many drinkers know that great bubbles from this area can rival Champagne with their complexity and stunning taste.

While on the subject of Jura negociant wines, it seemed like the right time to highlight the pure, natural wines from Alice Bouvot of Domaine de L'Octavin. Having to deal year after year with problems in her own vineyards, Alice has been very active with negociant projects, sourcing grapes from the south of France and Alsace, to name a couple of locales. It could be said that she was one of the first in the Jura to actively pursue negociant projects. We can't think of many Jura producers who dabbled in negoce before Alice, but part of that is the timing of the consecutive years of bad conditions in the Jura. Basically, everyone had to start looking for grapes at the same time, so Marnes Blanches, Fabrice Dodane (Domaine de Saint Pierre) and Alice were among many winemakers who developed other offerings to supplement their estate wines. Her skin contact wines from aromatic varieities are tons of fun, and the Riesling from grapes sourced from Philippe Brand is a real treat!

This afternoon, we're offering our entire allocation of Coup de Jus and Marnes Blanches Crémant, along with a smattering of Alice Bouvot's L'Octavin wines. There is very, very little to be had. David Hatzopoulos

(Click here to view the last remaining inventory from our larger Marnes Blanches/Tissot offer from 4/2)

Organic viticulture is a staple of Marnes Blanches, and this extends to the Fromont's negociant wines (Supplier site)

No Longer Available

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2020 Coup du Jus Dionysis Gamay

Organic fruit sourced from Beaujolais producer Bruno Debize. In the glass, the 2020 Dionysus Gamay is a clear dark cherry in color. On the nose, a mix of fragrant red berry and black plum supports fresh herbal tones and savory spices, like airy dashes of cumin, paprika, and black pepper. As the wine opens up, more elegant smells of espresso and red flowers appear. A lovely, delicate juiciness floats on the tongue, with flavors of ripe plum, orange zest, and a touch of clove. The fruit lingers on the finish and a hint of black tea wraps up the sip. With just a hint of tannin, a semi-plump middle, and balanced acidity, this Gamay displays incredibly satisfying structure. Resist drinking this too fast - patience will reward you with an extremely expressive wine! David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $30.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) 2020 Coup de Zeus Go Wild Grenache

The Zeus Grenache has a similar color to the Dioynsus Gamay, though showing a bit more red in the glass. Aromatically, this wine carries some of the gruff one might expect from Grenache - with whispers of fennel seed, provencal herbs, and a lingering, savory smoke. Still, it also shows the character of a Jura red, with high-toned red fruit and hibiscus. There is a softness to the palate. Notes of cherry and slim apricot leading to a finish just slightly earthy, with a kiss of minerally iron and earl grey. A light swish in the mouth, with very fine tannin, this wine’s texture echoes the beautiful lift of a Jura Trousseau. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $28.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) NV Cotes du Jura Cremant

This bottle of sparkling from Marnes Blanches is one of our favorites. This is 100% Chardonnay, coming from Les Molates, a parcel that the estate also uses to produce a great still white. This bubbly is a Brut Nature, with primary fermentation happening in tank, and then 18 months on the lees before being disgorged. We've all tasted this wine a lot at the shop, and our supplier sums up the taste profile very well: "Classic, chiseled, crémant. Notes of honeysuckle, sea spray, and green herbs and a long, persistent finish."

  • Out of Stock
  • white sparkling
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $33.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Marnes Blanches (Geraud Fromont) NV Cotes du Jura Cremant Reserve

100% Chardonnay from vines planted in the 1970s. Tank fermented, elevage in barrel. No dosage and rests on the lees for two years before being disgorged.  A radiant but substantial color of dry, golden grass with a long lasting, frothy crown. The nose has a savory element of baked lemon tart, with an accent of apricot. On the palate, there are flavors of lemon, lime, and a hint of spicy white pepper. The wine crackles on the tongue with strong sparky bubbles, but has some density and texture.  Floats with ease between two contrasting styles, one being rich, the other being zippy. Well placed, right in the middle. David Hatzopoulos

  • Out of Stock
  • white sparkling
  • 0 in stock
  • $38.99

  • Organic

Domaine de L'Octavin 2020 VdF Hip Hip J Chardonnay

Alice Bouvot, of Domaine de L'Octavin, has sourced some grapes from good friends in the Jura, and produced a line of wines called "Hop Hip J," we're guessing because they are hip Jura wines. This Chardonnay is from clay/limestone soils, 50% direct press and 50% skin contact for 6 weeks. By no means a skin contact wine, the maceration is basically to give some texture and grip in the back-palate. Very classic Jura, without any oxidative notes, rather chalky minerals and a bit of herbal tea vibe.

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $46.99

  • Organic
  • No Sulfur

Domaine de L'Octavin 2018 VdF Le Roi des Cepages

They call Riesling the king of grapes. This is Riesling sourced from Philippe Brand in Alsace, with short skin contact. A lovely expression and probably my favorite of the negociant wines from Alice Bouvot. It also has a "paint by number" label for anyone with kids or anyone with an inner kid -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $43.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Domaine de L'Octavin 2019 VdF Mus'Cat

Whole cluster fermentation of Muscat Petits Grains and Muscat d'Alexandria, sourced from Vincent Lafage in South-west France. Aromatic, floral, perfumed, with some grit and a touch of carbonic tickle on the tongue. Totally dry, with a hint of amber hue, but overall hazy and textured. A fun wine!  -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $43.99

  • Organic
  • No Sulfur

Domaine de L'Octavin 2020 VdF Cigogne Rose

Cicogne is a new negociant wine from Alice Bouvot, made from Gewurztaminer and Pinot Gris sourced from Alsace. This wine needs at least a few months in the bottle if not a year. A touch of volatile acidity on opening, in need of a long decant or just a bit more time in the bottle. What's the wine like though?? Beautiful! Once the VA blows off (it starts to be less intense after about 20-30 minute decant), there is lovely spice here and a touch of happy red fruit from the Pinot Gris. Aromatic, hazy, funky skin contact wine with a lot of character and pizazz.  -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • rosé
  • 0 in stock
  • $39.99

  • Organic
  • No Sulfur