Savagnin

Monique and Tim were fortunate enough to get their hands on a farm with some of the most exciting vinyards in Adelaide Hills. Roughly 5 parcels planted in 1994 with Savagnin, Garganega, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and a bit of Cabernet Franc+Sauvignon. The solis are perfect for winemaking, and even have quartz running through the vineyard. This yields a potential for very precise minerality - something that Tim and Monique achieve in spades (especially in their Savagnin/Chadonnay blend 'High Paradise'!).

If you want to know anything about the Jura, all you have to do is hook up with Stéphane. The man is a walking, talking (both very fast!) encyclopedia of the history of his beloved center of the wine world. Jump in his SUV, and he will talk you through the geological evolution over the last 80 million years while driving you (again, fast!) to cliff formations and vineyards in order for you to see everything for yourself. And his contagious enthusiasm extends through to his vineyards - imagine being a hands-on craftsman farming upwards of 50 hectares of vines. Biodynamically.

The vines of Domaine de La Pinte were historic until the ravages of phyllorexa had their way with the Jura. It wasn't until the 50's that local vigneron Roger Martin started to replant the vines, with the first official vintage being 1959. Today his son Pierre oversees the domaine with Bruno Ciofi and Emmanuel Perraud at the helm in the cellar. The vineyards sit 400m above sea level on the infamous blue marl of Arbois up to Château-Chalon, Pierre cultivates mainly Savignin across the 34 ha, with a few ha of Poulsard, Chardonnay, Trousseau and Pinot Noir.