Berthet-Bondet - Côtes du Jura Tradition 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The estate overlooks the entire town of Château-Chalon, perched on a rocky outcrop at an elevation of 450 meters. Jean has passed the torch to his daughter Hélène, who returned to take over the business after a career as a translator in Brussels, and now oversees the smooth operation of the 15-hectare vineyard. Certified organic since 2013, the wines are among the vineyard’s greatest successes, particularly the voile wines, the estate’s signature specialty. The yellow wines (4.5 hectares in Château-Chalon) are aged in magnificent vaulted cellars.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

The estate was founded in 1985 by Jean Berthet-Bondet, a former mayor of Château-Chalon and an agricultural engineer, as is his wife. Cultivated according to organic farming standards, the 13 hectares of vineyards and vaulted cellars have been managed by their daughter Hélène since 2018.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

2021 was an unusual year, with a virtually non-existent harvest and, consequently, very low production volumes. The 2021 Côtes du Jura Tradition was made with 60% Chardonnay and 40% Savagnin—significantly more Savagnin than in “normal” years—because Chardonnay is more susceptible to frost, which significantly alters the balance. The grape varieties were blended and aged together in barrels for three years. The nose is fragrant, spicy, and mushroomy, closer to sherry, and the palate is dry, chalky, and lively, due to the “liposuction” effect of the flor, which removes the wine’s fat. It shows good maturity, with 13% alcohol, and very good acidity. I also tasted a bottle from 2001, and the wine had a fantastic, spicy nose with notes of green walnuts and curry, and a fresh, balanced palate. If the 2021 follows the same path, I’m being too harsh in my rating... Bravo!

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Tradition 2021 (a blend of Chardonnay and Savagnin aged for two years in barrels without topping up) is expressing itself beautifully right now—not with power, but with flavor—featuring lovely hints of green walnut and fresh flour, and a great deal of delicacy.

About the estate:

Chantal and Jean Berthet-Bondet, both agricultural engineers, left the city in 1985 to establish this 11-hectare estate, located equally within the Château-Chalon and Côtes du Jura appellations, and certified organic since 2013. Hélène, Jean’s daughter, is now at the helm. The quality is evolving toward greater expression and purity of the fruit. New vintages and labels for fortified wines have been cleverly reimagined, though the wines aged under a veil remain the estate’s undisputed stars, with a Château-Chalon that serves as a model for the prestigious appellation.