Caveau de Bacchus (Lucien Aviet)

Domaine Lucien Aviet's Caveau de Bacchus in Montigny-lès-Arsures, Jura, was founded in 1960 after Lucien Aviet's return from the Algerian war. Beginning with a single hectare inherited from his parents, the estate expanded over the years. By 1990, Lucien's son, Vincent, joined him, solidifying the name Caveau de Bacchus.

The estate boasts a mix of Jurassic grape varieties; half are reds like Trousseau and Ploussard, while whites include heirloom Chardonnay (Melon Queue Rouge) and Savagnin. Their vineyards benefit from Montigny-lès-Arsures' marls, tracing back to the Triassic and Jurassic periods, giving unique soil compositions for each grape variety.

The vineyards of Caveau de Bacchus are cultivated according to sustainable agriculture principles, with minimal chemical treatments and manual harvesting. The estate's vines, ranging from 30 to 60 years old, are all selected through massale selection, preserving the genetic heritage of the plants. The specific terroirs influence the choice of grape varieties planted, with Trousseau thriving in clay soils with flint (chailles), Poulsard preferring the iridescent Triassic marls, Savagnin excelling in foliated Lias gray marls, and Chardonnay adapting well to scree-rich limestone soils.

In terms of winemaking, Caveau de Bacchus focuses on simplicity. Alcoholic fermentations occur spontaneously with native yeasts in temperature-controlled vats. The red and Chardonnay wines are aged in casks for one year, while the Savagnin undergoes oxidative aging, spending four years under the yeast veil for the Réserve du Caveau cuvée and eight years for the Vin Jaune, also known as the "Cuvée de la Confrérie. This oxidative aging process, without the addition of sulfur, imbues the wines with distinct aromas of nuts, morels, and curry while also giving them exceptional aging potential.

Their wines, like Cuvée des Géologues and Cuvée de la Confrérie, honor relationships with local students who assisted during harvests. The names reflect geologists' and doctors' favored wines.