Have you tried Méli-Mélo? As most natural wine drinkers, you are probably already interested in the mythical wines that come from Jura, France. The special mix of soil, grape varieties and talented winemakers have made this region one of the most sought after across the world.
AMÉLIE VUILLET et SÉBASTIEN JACQUES wines are some of the rarer bottles you can get from Jura, but if you do get a chance to get your hands on a bottle, you won’t be disappointed.
Méli-Mélo put simply, is a juice bomb. As the name suggests it’s a mix, or better yet, a masterful blend of Gamay, Trousseau, Ploussard, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Savagnin. This combination of red and white grapes results in a ruby red colour that smells like fresh raspberries and red currents.
As it hits your palette, Méli-Mélo unleashes a complex yet approachable mix of grapefruit, cranberries, tangerine, rhubarb and the aforementioned raspberries. Hints of forest floor and barnyard are present but not overpowering. Your teeth tingle from the tart sourness, but the acidity is pleasant, and long lasting.
The couple work their 1.5 hectares of vines by animal traction, they leave their grapes in vats with no intervention or additions, they have no pump for vinification, no thermoregulated tanks, and only a manuel press. Their goal is the use the smallest amount of electrical or mechanical energy possible in their winemaking process. There is no wonder that Vanessa Masse, the first female to be awarded ‘Best Sommelier’ by the Michelin Guide in 2021 was recently pictured holding one of their bottles in an article in French newspaper Le Monde. If that isn’t a good endorsement, we don’t know what is.
Due to frost, snow, rain and two hail storms, this vintage only exists in very small quantities. But it is well worth seeking out and sharing with a friend!
You can also taste their wines this weekend at Le Nez dans le Vert wine fair in Arbois.
Country: France Region: Jura
Grapes: Gamay, Trousseau, Ploussard, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Savagnin
Vintage: 2021
Music pairing: BIG – Juicy
