# Arbois Naturé (2022)

- **Producer:** Domaine Ratte
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Savagnin
- **Region:** Jura, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €36
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, lemon, apple, grapefruit, blossom, white pepper, toast, honey

## About this wine

Domaine Ratte is an artisanal family estate located in Arbois, Jura, managed by Michel-Henri, Françoise, and Quentin Ratte. The family farmed their vineyards organically and biodynamically for decades, selling grapes to a local cooperative until 2015, when they began estate-bottling their own wines. The Arbois Naturé cuvée is sourced from biodynamically farmed old-vine parcels around Arbois, grown on blue and grey marl soils. Savagnin is locally known as Naturé in Arbois, and this cuvée represents the pure, topped-up non-oxidative expression of the indigenous variety.

## Interesting facts

- Naturé is the ancestral local synonym for the Savagnin grape in the town of Arbois.
- Some of the parcels used for this cuvée feature vines over 100 years old, originally planted by Françoise Ratte's great-grandfather.
- Domaine Ratte supplied grapes to a cooperative for decades before releasing their first domain-bottled vintage in 2015.

## Food pairing

The intense natural acidity and distinct saline minerality of this topped-up Savagnin slice through rich seafood fat and cut through cream or soft cheese textures. Its concentrated stone fruit and citrus characteristics allow it to handle light spices and aromatic Asian herbs without being overwhelmed, while classic regional pairings like aged Comté mirror the wine's rich, savory complexity.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested late in the season to ensure optimal maturity and concentration. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vessels. Malolactic fermentation is intentionally avoided to preserve the natural high acidity of the Savagnin grape. The wine is crafted non-oxidatively using regular topping up (ouillé) to keep vessels full. Aging takes place for under six months in a combination of stainless steel and old Burgundy oak barrels before being bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with minimal to no added sulfites.