Jérôme Arnoux

History of Domaine Jérôme Arnoux

The story of Jérôme Arnoux is that of an early vocation. A native of Montigny-les-Arsures, the foremost wine-growing village of the Jura, famous for its celebrated Trousseau grape variety, he was already spending his free Wednesdays as a child at his neighboring winemaker's, who would affectionately repeat: "Jérôme, when you grow up you'll be a wine merchant!" A self-taught man, at just 17 years of age, he began the real work of the vine and the cellar at Stéphane Tissot (Domaine André et Mireille Tissot), an iconic figure of the Jura, who over ten years passed on to him his absolute passion for wine and trained him in winemaking. In 2005, he left the Tissots for another domaine de Montigny-les-Arsures, where he honed his experience over several years while already crafting his own cuvées.

A decisive opportunity then allowed him to join, as a cellar master, the Cellier des Tiercelines, a company founded in 1997 by Bénédicte and Stéphane Tissot, to whose technical creation he himself had contributed. With more than twenty years of cumulative experience in the finest cellars of Arbois, he took the plunge in 2015 and created his own domaine under his name. Today at the helm of 17 hectares of vines, Jérôme Arnoux has established himself in just a few vintages as one of the iconic figures of the Jura wine world, celebrated by enthusiasts and wine merchants alike for the precision, freshness and excellent value for money of his cuvées. The domaine is in conversion to organic farming and also offers a cellar classified as a Historic Monument (Cave de la Reine Jeanne) as well as four charming gîtes in Arbois.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Jérôme Arnoux

The vineyard of Jérôme Arnoux extends over 17 hectares, spread across AOC Arbois and Côtes du Jura, on the emblematic clay-limestone hillsides of the Jura wine region. The soils are of great geological diversity: Lias clays (formed approximately 200 million years ago) and Triassic clays (250 million years ago), Bajocian Jurassic limestones (150 million years ago). This pedological richness imparts to the wines a saline minerality, a characteristic freshness and a singular aromatic signature, which changes according to each plot and each grape variety. The emblematic plots bear in particular the names of Chantemerle (limestone) and Les Corvées (Bajocian limestone), which appear as single-vineyard selections on the labels.

The grape selection combines the indigenous varieties of the Jura (Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau) with varieties of Burgundian origin (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir), enabling Jérôme Arnoux to craft the full range of the great Jura styles. The domaine is in conversion to organic farming with Ecocert certification. Vineyard management is rigorous, with no pesticides or insecticides, in total respect for the soils. The only products used are organic inputs, with the aim of developing microbial life and preserving the balance of living organisms. Harvests are entirely manual, at full maturity, plot by plot, with rigorous sorting to ensure perfectly healthy grapes arrive at the winery.

Vinifications of Domaine Jérôme Arnoux

In the cellar, Jérôme Arnoux applies a deliberately low-interventionist winemaking approach, drawing on his long experience alongside the great Jura masters. All fermentations are carried out exclusively with the indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes, with no addition of selected yeasts. The wines are not fined and are very lightly filtered, in a spirit of transparency and respect for the grape. The use of sulfur is deliberately minimal, and certain cuvées (such as the Paradoxe Savagnin) are vinified with no added sulfites whatsoever.

The range is distinguished by its mastery of the two great Jura winemaking traditions. For ouillé whites (modern style), the barrels are kept always full to prevent oxidation and preserve the fruit. For veil-aged whites (oxidative style), a layer of yeast forms naturally on the surface of the wine during aging, imparting the characteristic aromatic signature of walnut, curry, honey and spices. The Vins Jaunes, jewels of the Jura, age for a minimum of six years and three months in oak barrels under veil, in the purest tradition of the appellation. The reds are vinified using various techniques (aging in tanks, in barrels, or carbonic maceration depending on the cuvée), with particular attention to the finesse and purity of the fruit.

The cuvées of Domaine Jérôme Arnoux

Rosé: saignée rosé cuvée, crafted from the various red grape varieties of the Jura (Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir) on clay-limestone terroir. Tank-aged, pale salmon color, nose of small red fruits, fresh and fruity palate.

Poulsard: red cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Poulsard on clay terroir. Aged 10 months in tank. Pale color, aromas of undergrowth and red fruits, fresh and fruity palate. An authentic expression of the emblematic grape variety of Arbois.

Pinot Noir: red cuvée on clay-limestone terroir, vinified by carbonic maceration to preserve the fruit. Unfiltered wine, indulgent and very fruity, with silky tannins and typical red fruit notes of Jurassian Pinot Noir.

Trousseau: red cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Trousseau on limestone terroir. Aged for 12 months, 50% in tank and 50% in barrel. Deep red color, complex aromas of strawberries and raspberries with spiced nuances. A fully realized expression of the great red grape variety of the Jura.

Trousseau Les Corvées: single-vineyard cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Trousseau from the Les Corvées lieu-dit, a Bajocian limestone terroir. Aged 12 months in barrel, of which 15% new. A tribute from the winemaker to his native grape variety from Montigny-les-Arsures, giving rise to a wine of great sensitivity, polished, suave and complex.

Trousseau Quintessence: an exceptional cuvée crafted from Trousseau in a denser and more complex expression. Long and mineral palate, toasted and grilled notes, spice aromas. A very fine wine for aging, the signature of the winemaker's experience.

Chardonnay Initial: entry-level Chardonnay cuvée in AOC Arbois. Pale color, mineral and fruity nose, fresh and precise palate. An ideal gateway into the world of Jura white wines.

Chardonnay Chantemerle: single-vineyard white cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Chardonnay from the eponymous lieu-dit. Fermentation and aging in barrel for 12 months. Aromas of linden, white flowers and yellow fruits, taut and deep palate, limestone mineral signature.

Chardonnay Côtes du Jura: white cuvée in AOC Côtes du Jura, crafted from 100% Chardonnay on limestone terroir. Fermentation and aging in barrel for 12 months, of which 15% new. Toasted notes, a wine of great complexity and fine length.

Savagnin Ouillé Entre-Deux: cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Savagnin vinified in ouillé style (without veil). Aged 12 months in oak barrels with topping up. Pale golden color, floral nose with notes of white flowers and lychee, taut and precise palate. Another elegant and modern facet of the great Jura grape variety.

Nuance (Chardonnay/Savagnin): a blended cuvée in AOC Arbois, where the Savagnin brings its aromas of honey, brioche, dried apricots, almonds and spices, while the Chardonnay contributes vivacity, minerality, salinity and roundness. A perfect balance, reflecting the winemaker's expertise.

Paradoxe Savagnin: bold cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Savagnin with 10 days of maceration and 3 months of aging in fiber tank, with no added sulfites. A natural and original expression of the grape variety, with a unique signature.

Tradition: introductory cuvée to the world of veil-aged wines, crafted from 80% Chardonnay aged in stainless steel tanks and 20% Savagnin aged 2.5 years under veil. A gentle amuse-bouche for discovering the oxidative Jura universe.

Savagnin Sous Voile: cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from 100% Savagnin aged 30 months under veil on clay terroir. Typical notes of walnut, curry, honey and spices, complex and deep palate. A fully realized expression of the great oxidative tradition of the Jura.

Vin Jaune: the jewel of the domaine, crafted exclusively from 100% Savagnin, aged more than 6 years in oak barrels under veil, in the purest tradition of the Arbois appellation. Golden color, intense oxidative aromas of walnut, curry, almond, honey, celery, baked apple, cinnamon and brioche, with spiced and peppery notes. A unique and captivating experience, with great aging potential.

Vin de Paille: sweet cuvée in AOC Arbois, crafted from grapes dried on straw racks for several months to concentrate the sugars. Bright amber color, complex nose of candied fruits, honey and spices, silky and long palate. A great Jura sweet wine, ideal with foie gras or desserts.

Macvin du Jura: traditional mistelle crafted from Poulsard, Trousseau, Savagnin, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, mutéd with Marc du Jura eau-de-vie. A renowned Jura specialty, ideal as an aperitif or with a chocolate dessert.

Crémant du Jura Élégance Extra Brut: sparkling wine crafted from 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, using the traditional method. Fine bubbles, aromatic nose, taut and precise palate, Extra Brut finish with no dosage. A graceful and balanced Crémant.

Crémant du Jura ZD: Blanc de Noirs crafted from 100% Chardonnay (depending on the vintage), zero dosage. Fine power, fruity nose with aromas of pear, almond and brioche notes, fine bubble well integrated into a creamy texture. A typically Jurassian marly length, which wins over all enthusiasts.