Domaine de la Loue
Port-Lesney, Jura
Catherine Hannoun is based in Port Lesney, a small commune about 15 minutes north of Arbois which exudes the tranquility many associate with the hills of Jura. Having worked for many years in film, including on Mondovino (a film bringing some of the shadier practices of the global wine economy to light), Catherine settled in Jura in 2008. After working alongside the famed Emmanuel Houillon, she purchased her own vines in 2009 and then her own cellar in 2016. She now has 3.2ha of vineyards of Chardonnay, Savagnin, Trousseau and Pinot Noir around Marnoz and Arbois.
Incredibly passionate and hardworking, Catherine has dedicated the last decade to making age-worthy living wines in Jura. Her experience and understanding of the climate and terroir of the region continues to be shown through the finesse and complexity present in every one of her wines. Working organically and managing all of her vineyards herself by hand, she works pragmatically, responding to the needs of each particular vintage.
In the cellar, Catherine has adopted some of the traditional winemaking techniques of the region, but also relies heavily on her own intuition. She vinifies by parcel to allow each plot to express itself before then deciding on whether to blend or bottle. She will de-stem grapes by hand and often employs a millefeuille style of maceration, a technique that involves building layers of whole bunches and destemmed fruit which gives a more delicate extraction. Ageing of reds is usually in cuve while whites see élevage in both small and large barrels, giving the wines as much time as they need to find their balance.
Working alone in the Jura is no easy feat - there have been many years recently where Catherine has seen much of her production wiped out by fierce frosts, or endemic mildew - and to face these challenges can be exhausting. However, with over 15 years experience under her belt now, she always manages to create soulful and nourishing wines that are built to last, no matter the hurdles.
After a longer than usual wait, it gives us great pleasure to now receive a selection of new releases from the 2022 and 2023 vintages, as well as a small amount of Catherine’s unparalleled 2017 Vin Jaune and Vin de Liqueur.
