Jousset, 'The Orange Jouss' VDF, 2022

Producer: Domaine Lise et Bertrand Jousset
Region: Touraine, Loire, France
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Viticulture: Organic
Category: Skin-Contact, Orange
Size: 750ml

Lise and Bertrand Jousset founded their winery in Montlouis-sur-Loire in 2004, trusting their instincts to craft a distinctive wine style.  Spanning 11 hectares across Montlouis and Touraine, their vineyard comprises 27 plots with an average yield of 30HL/ha. The Joussets prioritize a hands-off approach, eschewing additives like yeast, chaptalization, acidification, or enzymes to focus on the intrinsic quality of the grape and emphasize meticulous vineyard work.

A clever play on words, Orange Jouss is the Jousset's first foray into skin contact whites. Certified organic and practicing biodydamic, this 40 yr old Chardonnay undergoes a 3 week whole cluster maceration before a gentle pressing and fermentation in fiberglass tank with native yeast and 100% malo. No punchdowns or pumpovers, just a slow, delicate infusion results in this textbook orange wine that's fresh and spicy with moderate acidity, discernible tannic structure and ripe tropical and stone fruit flavors.  Totally bright and expressive.  We'll be reaching for it all summer!