Lucien Aviet, Melon A Queue Rouge, 2023

Returning from the Algerian war in 1960, when many growers in the region opted to plant chardonnay, Lucien went against the trend by planting mainly trousseau à la dame (an old low-yielding strain) and savagnin by sélection massale on excellent rootstock. He became one of the first growers to bottle his own wine in Montigny-les-Arsures, the hamlet located just north of Arbois and considered the capital of trousseau. Now his son Vincent is at the helm following in his fathers footseps. The Aviets are one of the few trousseau specialists in the Jura, making no less than five cuvées from specific terroirs that they release as and when Vincent thinks they are starting to open out. Lucien learnt about good viticulture and its influence on wines alongside Pierre Overnoy under the tutelage of Jules Chauvet, and Vincent was inspired by working a stage with Laurent Macle. Laurent Macle, believes that Aviet makes Jura’s finest reds (quite the statement), but it doesn’t stop there and their 100% savagnin oxidative wines are exceptional too (try their Réserve de Caveau to see what we mean).