Maison Pierre Overnoy - Emmanuel Houillon & Pierre Overnoy

The legendary Pierre Overnoy took over the family estate in 1968. Domaine Pierre Overnoy is located in the small village of Pupillin, 3 km south of Arbois in the Jura region. Pierre Overnoy distinguished himself by vinifying without added sulfur from 1983 onwards, becoming an icon of the "natural wine" movement. It was the physicist Jules Chauvet, a talented taster and the father of the natural wine movement, who inspired him with his meticulous approach and introduced him to the winemaking practices to which he remained faithful. The estate could have had a very different future, because without descendants and aged 64, Pierre Overnoy chose to pass the torch in 2001 to Emmanuel Houillon, whom he considered his spiritual son, and who had worked alongside him since 1989. The succession was a success, and Emmanuel Houillon, accompanied by his wife Anne, continues today the work of his "mentor" at the Pierre Overnoy estate, and the wines are in continuity with those of Pierre Overnoy.

Discreet and a perfectionist, Emmanuel Houillon now manages the 6 hectares of vines biodynamically on this magnificent terroir. The Jura whites possess a strong personality, boasting a wide aromatic range and impressive aging potential. It must be said that the very long aging (in barrels, sometimes up to 9 years, with topping up, as with the 2000 and 2003 vintages) gives them a smooth texture and a majestic oxidation. The 2014 Chardonnay offers remarkable fullness for the vintage, a sensuality (fresh butter) immediately complemented by a sharp, sovereign acidity, unmistakably Jura. The Jura reds, with their sparkling hues, are silky, fresh, and creamy. Poulsard red, with its characteristic orangey hue, offers an enchanting aroma of dried flowers and candied citrus, prolonged by a fine and perfectly ripe tannic structure.

For those who are not very familiar with the field, lovers of great wines will be delighted to taste these exceptional vintages, pure, vibrant and of formidable precision.

Related articles:

• Pierre Overnoy & Emmanuel Houillon tell us about 50 years of climate change and it's dizzying!
• Pierre Overnoy and Emmanuel Houillon: The Jura through their eyes
• The Origin of Natural Wine by Pierre Overnoy (video interview in French)
  "If we continue like this, humanity is heading straight for disaster." This first recording, made in 2018, is a perfect introduction to Pierre Overnoy. In this interview, he shares his journey and his thoughts on natural wine production. He insists on the use of traditional methods and rejects the use of phytosanitary products at all stages of wine production. Among the pioneers who accompanied him, he mentions his friendships with Marcel Lapierre , Jules Chauvet, and Jacques Néauport, who influenced his approach in the vineyard and cellar. All advocated agriculture without chemicals to preserve the environment and the quality of the grapes.
  Modern oenology methods have certainly led to progress such as the reduction of fermentation accidents, but at the same time, have resulted in a loss of quality and authenticity in the wines. Throughout his life, Pierre Overnoy has experimented with producing wines without sulfur or chemicals, and producing a quality wine was, above all, possible with healthy vines and soils. He emphasizes the importance of respecting the production chain, from the roots of the vines to the final wine. This approach requires rigorous work, but the results demonstrate that "living" wines without chemicals are possible and sustainable.
  He recalls the ability of natural wines to age, often much longer than chemically treated wines, while retaining their freshness, sometimes even to the point of giving them an incredible second youth. Finally, he concludes by affirming that natural wine is based on a philosophy of respect for life, where sulfur should only be used when truly necessary, like medicine for a sick grape.
• PIERRE OVERNOY: a legend of natural Jura wine (video interview) (FR)
  During a tour of his winery, Pierre Overnoy explains the evolution of winemaking methods, including the transition to sulfur-free wines in the 1980s, influenced by family traditions and experimentation. The estate owns plots planted in 1949 with grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard, grown on different types of marl (gray, blue, and red), although these appellations are not always recognized by geologists.
  This interview also discusses the impacts of climate change on vines, highlighting unpredictable and worrying climate variations. The importance of water and the impact of drought on harvest quality, with notable examples from 1989 and 1990. The Jura, a small wine-growing region, has seen a notable evolution with the arrival of young organic winegrowers. Once renowned for highly oxidized wines intended for a mountain clientele, Jura wines have gained in quality and renown thanks to modernized practices. Despite climatic and commercial challenges, the estate remains an example of authenticity and transmission in the wine world.
• Pierre Overnoy and Emmanuel Houillon, natural filiation (FR)
• Jura Tour 2019 - Visit to the Overnoy-Houillon estate in Pupillin (FR)
• Pierre Overnoy de Pupillin winery ranked among the best wines in France (FR)
• The mystery of the surge in prices at Overnoy-Houillon wine auctions (FR)
• Emmanuel Houillon-Overnoy Wine in the Jura (video interview in French) (FR)
• Pierre Overnoy showed how to destem the Poulsard (a real tutorial in French by Pierre Overnoy on destemming during the harvest).
  Arbois pupillin from Emmanuel Houillon and Pierre Overnoy (in English). A series of visits and interviews with Louis Dressner, their importer in the United States.
• Pierre Overnoy, natural wine legend: “It will soon be impossible to make wines without sulfur” (FR)
  Heart of the Jura. Pierre Overnoy, a child of Pupillin, tells the story of his village.
• Pierre Overnoy House (FR)
  Vin jaune: do you really know Arbois? (FR) Article briefly summarizing the specificities of this appellation.
• Pierre Overnoy: "We tend to say that organic people are little jokers!" (FR)
• Pierre Overnoy & Emmanuel Houillon tell us about 50 years of climate change and it's dizzying! (FR)

Books on the Overnoy estate:

• Pierre's Word (French edition): interviews with Pierre Overnoy, winegrower in Pupillin in the Jura.
  This book is a collection of interviews in which Pierre Overnoy discusses his wines and his wonderful philosophy of life through various subjects.
• Pierre Overnoy! (French edition): Entering the Aura. Harriet and Marcus de Vere, a translator and wine merchant respectively in London, are the authors of this book, translated from English by Thierry Weber. They explore Pierre Overnoy's spiritual and artisanal quest and how it makes sense in our digital world.
• BETWEEN THE VINES #3 WITH 3 GENERATIONS OF JURA WINEGROWERS. The Entre Les Vignes team spent four years meeting three generations of Jura winegrowers, discussing the concept of transmission in a winemaking world shaken by unprecedented climate change. Emmanuel and Pierre occupy a prominent place in the film.
• Raisin, 100 Great Natural Wines of Emotion. A book celebrating the emotion of tasting exceptional natural wines, including a full-length interview with Pierre Overnoy.