François Rousset-Martin
6 March 2025
For François Rousset-Martin, terroir doesn’t end in the vineyard. Descend a rickety ladder into his 300 year old Jura cellar and you enter a living, thriving world - one in which countless bacteria, yeasts and fungi have been invited to pull up a chair, pour themselves a glass of Macvin, and generally make themselves at home. There are mould-covered barrels, thick cobwebs, and walls black with years of evaporated alcohol. This environment, in which the character and quality of Rousset-Martin’s wines are shaped, is as important to him as the vineyards above.
Rousset-Martin’s enthusiasm for this subterranean world comes from his father, who was a micro-biologist in Dijon. Growing up in Burgundy also helps explain why most of his wines are topped-up, and why he is one of a pack of new-school Jura producers making carefully-defined single vineyard cuvées. Farming is organic, and the winemaking is low intervention. No sulphur is used, and sometimes a veil of flor is allowed to develop in barrel before topping up begins. The wines all speak with a distinct Jura accent, but in their detail, each has something different to say.
Complex, engaging and critically acclaimed, Rousset-Martin’s wines are among the very best in Jura. Our latest allocation is in stock now.
Rousset-Martin Chardonnay 'Gravières' 2020 (£56)
From a tiny plot of 40-50 year old vines in Lavigny.
Rousset-Martin Chardonnay 'La Chaux' 2020 (£71)
From a parcel of 65 year old vines in Château-Chalon.
Rousset-Martin Savagnin 'Vigne aux Dames' 2020 (£82)
65 year old Savagnin vines in Menétru-le-Vignoble.
Rousset-Martin Savagnin 'Cuvée du Professeur' 2020 (£82)
From Château-Chalon vines owned by François’ father, who was a professor at the University of Dijon.
Rousset-Martin Savagnin 'Perrières' 2018 (£83)
From 30 year old vines, aged for 18 months in 225l barrels.
Rousset-Martin Pinot Noir 'Voyage au Bout de Nuits' 2022 (£57)
Made by François with grapes sourced from Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy.
Rousset-Martin Gamay 'Barbe Fleurie' 2022 (£57)
Gamay made with grapes sourced from Fleurie Poncié in Beaujolais.
Rousset-Martin Macvin de Savagnin NV (£97)
A rare, sweet, fortified wine loaded with dried fruit and herbs.