The Côtes du Jura Tradition from Berthet-Bondet consists of 80% Chardonnay and 20% of the native Jura grape Savagnin, a Traminer variant that is not fragrant at all. The wine is matured for two years in 228 liter barrels, in which a yeast flora forms, under which the wine slowly matures oxidatively. With ideal storage, the winery gives it a lifespan of up to 30 years. This is an announcement, but the 2012 vintage tried in 2020 showed no maturity or even age, so we do not doubt it.
The wine is golden yellow in color. In the fragrance a rather medium Jura oxidation with a very fine nut aroma. It has a lot of freshness and an invigorating flow, mineral elegance, dry. This is a deliberately fine and elegant type, there are louder wines in this category, but few with such great finesse. Will age well, but can also be drunk now.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rats the Berthet-Bondet Tradition 91/100. Quote: "The subtle biological 2016 Côtes du Jura Tradition is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Savagnin matured in 228-liter oak barrels that were not topped up and develop a veil of yeasts that gave it that spicy and smoky profile of the traditional Jura whites (hence its name). It's somewhat light at 13% alcohol, and the effect of the yeasts seems to have sharpened it. 10,000 bottles were filled in May 2020."
