100% Savagnin made with purchased old-vine fruit from an organically farmed vineyard. Fermented spontaneously, aged for 24 to 36 months (depending on the source) in old 500-liter demi-muids. Bottled unfined, unfiltered and without any SO2. 14,5% alcohol.
There's quite a bit of sediment in the wine: the first pour or two are clear straw yellow, but the pours are quite cloudy, more reminiscent of pineapple juice - I heartily recommend to let the bottle stand upright and then decant it carefully. The nose is ripe yet sharp with subtly funky yet not particularly wild aromas of fresh Granny Smith apple, some saline oceanic tones, a little bit of leesy yeast, light sweet peachy notes, a hint of oxidative nuttiness, a touch of lifted eucalyptus character and a whiff of creamy oak. The wine feels ripe, concentrated and pretty structured on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of saline minerality, some juicy nectarine tones, a little bit of caramel, light funky nuances, a hint of oxidative nuttiness and a touch of fresh pineapple. The high alcohol lends some heat to the palate and the quite high acidity keeps the wine firm and structured. The lengthy finish is lively, concentrated and somewhat hot with an intense and slightly sweet-toned aftertaste of fresh pineapple, some nectarine, a little bit of honeyed richness, light funky tones, a hint of saline minerality and a touch of creaminess.
I was surprised how big and ripe this wine was - probably more ripe and concentrated than any other nego Ganevat white I've tasted. You can taste that the ripeness in the sweet-toned fruit flavors, high alcohol and sense of concentration, but true to the classic Jura Savagnin style, the wine is at the same time surprisingly fresh and balanced with an unmistakable streak of saline minerality that seems to be the hallmark of Jura's whites. Although I prefer the leaner, less opulent style of Ganevat whites, this is still a pretty enjoyable effort - as long as one makes sure to decant the bottle! The flavors do get muddled a bit once the wine starts to get cloudy.