France

Established in the 12th century, Château d'Arlay is one of France's most venerable estates with its enviable collection of ancient Jura varieties among France's oldest continuously-worked vineyards.Alain de Laguiche, d'Arlay's current owner and a descendant of its founding family, believes that the estate's sheltered and south-facing slopes are the secret to its success. Its unique terroir – deep grey marl soils covered by chalk – is regarded as some of the region's finest. A proponent of biodynamic farming, Alain crafts a mesmerising array of wines unique to the Jura and, in some cases, to the estate itself.Besides its celebrated varietal bottlings of Chardonnay, Savagnin and Pinot Noir, d'Arlay is known for its delicious pink-hued 'Corail' – a blend of all the region's varieties, red and white – as well as the labour-intensive, lusciously sweet Vin de Paille, made from dried grapes. The château's jewel, however, is its intense, nutty Vin Jaune, made in only the best vintages and aged under a veil of yeast for seven years.After minimal fining and filtering, bottles are matured in the château's 17th century cellars until Alain chooses to release them – often significantly later than other producers. Such is their fruit concentration and structure that these wines are exceptionally long-lived, with a subtle complexities emerging with age.

Château d'Arlay

Wines

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