Arbois “En Spois” Dévoilé 2018 — Domaine André et Mireille Tissot

Arbois “En Spois” Dévoilé 2018 — Domaine André et Mireille Tissot

This Arbois “En Spois” Dévoilé 2018 from Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot is a rare and singular cuvée made from Savagnin, the emblematic grape variety of the Jura. It belongs to the world of characterful Jura whites, combining power, tension, long ageing and a profoundly original expression of the Arbois terroir.

The back label states that this Savagnin was aged for 6 years in cask without topping-up. Exceptionally, however, it was not protected by a veil of yeast, which explains the name “Dévoilé”. The result is an extraordinary wine: concentrated, dry, broad, saline, marked by dried fruits, spices, candied citrus, walnut, curry, wax, smoky notes and remarkable persistence.

Terroir: Arbois, En Spois and the intensity of Savagnin

The Arbois sector, at the heart of the Jura, gives Savagnin a particularly deep expression: natural acidity, aromatic power, structure, salinity and remarkable ageing potential. The En Spois lieu-dit offers here a very personal reading of the grape, in a more concentrated and experimental register than a classic topped-up Savagnin.

Long ageing in cask without topping-up concentrates the wine and develops aromas of dried fruits, spices and delicate rancio, while preserving a typically Jura-driven tension. The absence of a yeast veil changes the expected balance: the wine retains oxidative depth, yet with a more direct, more surprising expression, less strictly related to traditional Vin Jaune.

Tasting notes

Expression of the 2018 vintage

The 2018 vintage gives this cuvée a dense, ripe and energetic expression. Long ageing has transformed the wine into something singular, closer to a great age-worthy Savagnin experience than to a classic Jura white. Its strength lies in the contrast between concentration, dryness, saline tension and aromatic richness.

This wine requires careful opening and large glasses. A serving temperature of around 11 to 12°C will preserve freshness, while moderate aeration will help reveal its nuances of walnut, spice, candied citrus and delicate rancio. It is clearly intended for lovers of great Jura wines, characterful Savagnin and rare cuvées with strong personality.