# Arbois Pinot Noir (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine Ratte
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Jura, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €38
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, forest floor

## About this wine

Domaine Ratte is owned and managed by Michel-Henri, Françoise, and their son Quentin Ratte in Arbois, Jura. Although the family has cultivated historic vineyards organically and biodynamically since 1989, they supplied fruit to the local cooperative for decades before taking full control to bottle under their own estate label in 2015. Planted in clay-limestone and Jurassic marl soils using selection massale cuttings, this cuvée reflects the cool-climate precision and authentic terroir of the Jura region.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes are manually destemmed directly in the vineyard to keep the berries completely intact.
- The family farmed biodynamically for 26 years before releasing their first estate bottle in 2015.
- The vineyard uses selection massale Pinot Noir vines planted in ancient Jurassic marl soils.

## Food pairing

The lively acidity, gentle tannins, and pure red fruit character of this Jura Pinot Noir make it exceptionally versatile with lean meats and cured savories. High natural acidity cuts through rich poultry and cured meats while light-bodied tannins preserve delicate flavours.

## Wine making process

Harvested by hand at complete maturity, the grapes are manually destemmed directly in the vineyard to keep berries whole. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats, followed by an extended three-week skin maceration without synthetic additives or added sulfur dioxide during fermentation. The wine is aged in old French oak Burgundy barrels (~40%) and stainless steel, then bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur additions.