Cellier Saint-Benoît

An erstwhile apprentice of some of Burgundy’s elite winemakers (including Nicholas Faure, Charles Lachaux, and Amélie Berthaut) Benjamin Benoît is crafting a roster of thrilling site-specific wines in the Jura.

For three generations the Benoîts sold grapes to the local co-operative until Benjamin’s father Denis built a cellar and began making wine in 2004. Taking over the family vineyards in 2019 at the age of 23, Benjamin introduced organic farming and artisanal winemaking techniques, pushing the quality of the domaine’s wines.

Benjamin farms 6ha of traditional Jura varieties – Chardonnay, Savagnin, Ploussard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir – across some of Pupillin’s oldest vineyards. Fermented with ambient yeasts and aged in old oak barrels, production is so tiny that each bottle is numbered individually.

From two parcels in the south of the appellation, Benjamin’s Chardonnay ‘La Marcette’ offers honeyed stone fruit notes off-set by racy acidity. Savagnin – famed for making the Jura speciality Vin Jaune – is made here in the ouillé (“topped up”) style, resulting in a wine full of citrus flavour and herbal freshness.

While most producers in the region blend their parcels, Benjamin favours single-vineyard bottlings of Ploussard: ‘La Ronde’ is spicy and mineral-driven, whereas ‘La Rouge’ is dark-fruited and powerful. From vines planted by his grandfather in 1957, Benjamin’s Pinot Noir ‘Courbes Raies’ combines elegant floral-fruit aromatics with a silky texture.

In addition to his white and red cuvées, Benjamin makes an extended lees-aged Crémant du Jura from Chardonnay, as well as a Vin de Paille – a labour intensive, decadently sweet wine made from grapes dried on straw mats.

With just two vintages behind him and already bestowed with Le Guide Hachette’s “Jura Winemaker of the Year” award, Benjamin Benoit is destined for great things.

Crémant du Jura NV (£26) Sold out
Aged for 5 years on lees. Brut Nature in style. Broad, toasty fruit balanced by bright acidity and salinity.

Chardonnay ‘La Marcette’ 2020 (£49) Sold out
From vines planted in 1966. Rich and textural, showing a little reduction that opens into honeyed stone fruit and alpine flowers.

Savagnin Naturé ‘Le Grapiot’ 2020 (£58) Sold out
From a gentle, north-west facing slope planted in 1967. Just one barrel made. Full-flavoured and focused with a core of pure lemon fruit.

Ploussard ‘La Ronde’ 2020 (£56) Sold out
From a steep, limestone-based slope planted in 1961. Spicy red berries laced with chalky minerality – long and taut.

Ploussard ‘La Rouge’ 2020 (£58) Sold out
From a gentle, south-east facing clay slope planted in 1961. A powerful and seductive profile of dark, woodsy fruit and spice.

Pinot Noir ‘Courbes Raies’ 2020 (£49) Sold out
From a west-facing slope planted 1957 and 1984. Elegant and fresh, with bright cranberry fruit and fine, tea-like tannins. Effortless drinking.

Vin de Paille 2014 (£54) Sold out
Made from 40-year-old Ploussard, Chardonnay, and Savagnin. Sweet and silky, with notes of orange rind, roasted chestnuts, and caramelised sugar.

Please note that this offer has expired, however you can check current stocks via the search bar or shop@shrinetothevine.co.uk