El Babou - Olivier Saint Priest

History of the El Babou Estate - Olivier Saint-Priest

Originally from Poligny, an emblematic town in the Jura, Olivier Saint-Priest built his training in contact with one of the most influential estates in the region: Domaine Labet in Rotalier. For over a decade, he acquired a thorough mastery of Jurassian grape varieties, parcel-based winemaking techniques, and cellar work, alongside Charline Labet and her family. Drawing on this experience, he took the leap and created his own project under the name El Babou, his affectionate nickname, transformed into a true viticultural signature. This choice of name reflects the spirit of the man: authentic, unconventional, attached to what is essential.

Established on small plots located between Rotalier and Saint-Lothain, in the southern Jura, Olivier has developed a domaine de deliberately limited size, around 1.25 hectares of vines. The rarity of his wines, sold in very limited quantities, contributes to their growing reputation among natural wine enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. El Babou is today cited alongside the greatest names in confidential Jurassian viticulture.

Terroirs and Vines of the El Babou Estate - Olivier Saint-Priest

The Jura is one of the most singular wine regions in France, characterized by complex soils blending grey marls, clays, Liassic and Bathonian limestones, as well as geological formations specific to this area of eastern France. The plots farmed by Olivier Saint-Priest are located in the southern part of the Jurassian vineyard, between Rotalier and Saint-Lothain, a sector renowned for the richness of its marly soils. These grey marls, typical of the local terroir, give the wines a pronounced minerality, precise acidity, and great tension on the palate.

The vineyard is farmed according to principles close to biodynamics, with human intervention reduced to a minimum and a rigorous respect for natural cycles. The vines, partly sourced from massale selections, express the genetic diversity inherent to old Jurassian plantings. The grape varieties cultivated are Savagnin and Chardonnay for whites, as well as traditional red varieties of the Jura such as Poulsard and Trousseau. Harvesting is exclusively manual, with meticulous selection of grapes at optimal ripeness on the steep-slope plots.

Winemaking at the El Babou Estate - Olivier Saint-Priest

The winemaking philosophy at El Babou rests on the principle of minimal intervention: zero inputs, spontaneous fermentations using only indigenous yeasts, no added sulfur, and bottling without filtration or fining. Each cuvée seeks to faithfully express the identity of its original plot. Aging is long, often in oak barrels, sometimes under a veil (the traditional oxidative technique of the Jura), sometimes in an ouillé style (without prolonged contact with air), depending on the grape variety and the desired expression. This duality between Jurassian tradition and a contemporary approach gives Olivier's wines a rare complexity.

For the Savagnin, aging can extend over several years, allowing the wine to develop the aromas of walnuts, curry, dried fruits, and candied lemon that are characteristic of the Jurassian oxidative style. For the Chardonnay, Olivier often favors partial aging under a veil, which preserves the freshness and minerality of the grape variety while adding depth. The reds, very rare, are crafted without any additions, in the spirit of pure natural wine, with light extraction and early bottling to preserve all their aromatic vivacity.

The Cuvées of the El Babou Estate - Olivier Saint-Priest

Champs-Longs: The flagship cuvée of El Babou, sourced from a plot located in the southern Jura, this white cuvée is crafted from Chardonnay and Savagnin, aged partly under a veil for several years. The result is a wine of exceptional complexity, combining the tension of Jurassian Chardonnay with the aromatic power of Savagnin. On the palate, one finds notes of candied lemon, ripe pear, hazelnut, and a long, saline finish. This wine is regularly cited among the most fascinating Chardonnays in all of France.

Rock'N Roll: Sourced from a plot of approximately 1.5 hectares planted on grey marls, this white cuvée is crafted from Savagnin, the king grape variety of the Jura. Vinified without any inputs, with natural fermentation and aging in oak barrels for approximately 18 months without topping up, it develops a characteristic slight oxidation. On the nose, aromas of walnuts, dried fruits, curry, and minerality; on the palate, an ample and structured body, well-balanced acidity, and a prolonged saline finish. This wine embodies the rebellious and artisanal spirit of the winemaker, between Jurassian tradition and contemporary creativity.

La Beaumette: A white cuvée from old-vine Chardonnay, sometimes blended with Savagnin depending on the vintage, La Beaumette is a wine of great purity that expresses the full minerality of the Jurassian marly terroir. The colour is golden yellow with luminous highlights; the nose opens on notes of white flowers, white-fleshed fruits, almond, and fresh walnuts. The palate is round, supported by bright acidity and fine minerality, with an aging potential of several years. A winemaker's wine, sincere and precise, seducing by its subtle balance.

Tinto: A rare and confidential red cuvée, the Tinto is crafted from a blend of traditional Jurassian red grape varieties, primarily Poulsard and Trousseau, vinified without any additives and bottled without filtration. It is a natural wine in its purest form, expressing aromas of wild small red fruits, earth, and gentle spices, with bright acidity and a juicy texture. With an extremely limited production, the Tinto is one of the most sought-after natural Jurassian reds among enthusiasts of the genre.