Red Wine Maison Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin Poulsard Jura 2018 750ml

Maison Pierre Overnoy – Arbois-Pupillin Poulsard 2018 (750ml)

A legendary natural red from the Jura, produced in microscopic quantities and regarded as one of the purest expressions of Poulsard on earth. The 2018 vintage offers a luminous, ethereal and profoundly delicate profile — the hallmark of Overnoy’s mythical craftsmanship.

Metadata

Region: Jura (Franche-Comté, France)
Appellation: Arbois-Pupillin AOC
Producer: Maison Pierre Overnoy (Emmanuel Houillon & Pierre Overnoy)
Viticulture: Certified organic, biodynamic practices, hand-harvested; no pesticides, no herbicides
Drinking window: From 2023 to 2035+, depending on desired evolution

General Wine Description

Arbois-Pupillin Poulsard 2018 is a masterclass in finesse. Made entirely from Poulsard (locally called Ploussard), this cuvée highlights the variety’s translucent color, aromatic precision, and featherweight structure. Fermented with native yeasts, aged patiently, and bottled without filtration or added sulfites, it captures the absolute purity of the Jura’s limestone-rich hillsides.

The 2018 vintage displays a radiant aromatic spectrum: crushed wild strawberries, redcurrant, rose petal, blood orange zest and subtle notes of white pepper. The palate is whisper-light yet surprisingly persistent, offering ultra-fine tannins, a silky texture, and a mineral-driven tension that keeps the wine lifted and energetic. It is one of those rare reds that behaves almost like an infusion — vibrant, alive, and highly expressive.

Terroir & Vineyard Details

The grapes come from old-vine parcels around Pupillin, often considered the “Grand Cru” village for Poulsard. These high-slope vineyards face cool exposures and benefit from a semi-continental climate with Alpine influences, preserving acidity even in warmer vintages like 2018.

The soils are dominated by blue and grey marl, limestone scree, and patches of clay, a combination that imparts a signature salinity and vertical tension to Overnoy’s wines. Farming is meticulous and entirely manual: dense vegetation cover, short pruning, and zero synthetic treatments. This low-intervention approach yields very small berries with concentrated aromatics and exceptional natural balance.

Winemaking & Natural Philosophy

True to Maison Overnoy’s iconic style, the vinification is as pure and minimalist as it gets:

• Grapes are entirely hand-harvested, sorted meticulously berries by berry.

• Whole-cluster fermentation begins naturally with indigenous yeasts.

• Slow, gentle maceration extracts only the most delicate tannins.

• Aging occurs in old neutral foudres for 12–18 months, with no new oak influence.

• No sulfur is added at any stage — not during fermentation, élevage, or bottling.

• The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving every nuance and micro-texture.

This philosophy results in a wine that is alive, transparent, and an exact reflection of its terroir, but also fragile and requiring careful cellaring.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:
Pale ruby with orange-tinged edges — almost translucent — shimmering with clarity.

Nose:
An intoxicating bouquet of fresh strawberry, raspberry coulis, blood orange, rosewater, dried herbs, and a hint of chalky minerality. Subtle undertones of pepper and wild forest floor add complexity.

Palate:
Airy, vibrant, and incredibly precise. Fine-tuned acidity carries flavors of red berries, citrus zest, pomegranate and a faint savory edge. The texture is silky and weightless, almost like a savory tea infusion. Tannins are ultra-fine, barely perceptible yet giving shape and structure.

Finish:
Long, floral and mineral, with lingering notes of redcurrant, dried rose and a saline lift. A finish of remarkable delicacy and persistence.

Why Buy This Wine?

• One of the world’s most sought-after natural wines
Overnoy is considered the absolute benchmark for natural winemaking. Bottles are traded globally by collectors and rarely seen on the market.

• Microscopic production
Production remains extremely limited, and demand far exceeds supply. Each bottle is a rarity.

• Cult status & historical significance
Pierre Overnoy pioneered sulfur-free winemaking decades before it became fashionable. Emmanuel Houillon perpetuates this uncompromising vision.

• Incredible longevity for such a delicate red
Despite its fragility and low extraction, Overnoy Poulsard can age gracefully for 10–15+ years, developing ethereal aromas of dried fruit, spices, and forest flowers.

• A true reference for terroir transparency
No makeup, no artifice — just purity, precision, and emotion in the glass.

Food Pairings & Ideal Occasions

This featherweight, aromatic red pairs beautifully with refined dishes:

• Delicate poultry: roast guinea fowl, quail, or chicken with herbs

• Light game: rabbit or hare à la moutarde

• Japanese-inspired cuisine: sashimi, tuna tataki, soba with mushrooms

• Vegetable-forward dishes: morel mushrooms, beetroot carpaccio, grilled artichokes

• Cheeses: young Comté, Tomme fraîche, or semi-soft goat cheeses

Serve slightly chilled (12–14°C) to highlight its floral brightness and mineral spine.

Perfect for a meditative solo tasting, a gastronomic dinner, or opening a mythical bottle for a true connoisseur.

Technical Summary

Producer: Maison Pierre Overnoy (Houillon–Overnoy)
Region/Appellation: Arbois-Pupillin AOC, Jura
Grape: 100% Poulsard (Ploussard)
Vintage: 2018
Volume: 750ml
Soils: Marl & limestone slopes around Pupillin
Farming: Organic, biodynamic principles, hand-harvested
Vinification: Native yeasts, whole clusters, slow maceration
Élevage: 12–18 months in old foudres
Additives: No sulfites added at any stage
Filtration: None
Alcohol: ~11–12%
Service: 12–14°C
Aging potential: Drink now to 2035+
Rarity: Extremely limited, cult-status wine

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

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