Country: France
Region: Jura / Vin de France
Vintage: 2023
Viticulture: Low-intervention / Natural
Grapes: 100% Muscat d’Alexandrie
Vinification
A seriously characterful skin-contact white from Alice Bouvot at Domaine de l’Octavin. Made with Muscat d’Alexandrie grapes sourced from a trusted grower friend in the Pyrénées, this is a very different take on the typically aromatic Muscat grape.
The grapes undergo four days of whole-bunch maceration before being pressed off into tanks, where the wine continues to develop for around a year. Made with a natural, minimal-intervention approach, the result is an expressive orange wine that balances heady aromatics with savoury depth and refreshing freshness.
Tasting note and best served with:
A wonderfully aromatic and slightly wild wine, bursting with tropical fruit, pear, bruised apple and floral notes, with hints of buttercup, citrus zest and a little funky edge. The skin contact brings extra texture, while a salty, pithy freshness keeps everything in check.
This is Muscat with a twist: fragrant and fruit-forward, but with enough savoury character to keep things interesting. A brilliant bottle for anyone who likes their natural wines a little outside the box.
Serve lightly chilled at around 10–12°C. Excellent as an aperitif or alongside spicy Asian dishes, Moroccan tagines, aromatic curries, charcuterie or a selection of punchy cheeses.
Producer and terroir information:
Domaine de l’Octavin is the project of Alice Bouvot, based in Arbois in the Jura. Since establishing the domaine in 2005, Alice has become one of the region’s best-known natural winemakers, producing distinctive, small-batch wines with a strong focus on biodynamic farming and minimal intervention.
Alongside her own vineyard holdings, Alice works with trusted growers across France to produce négociant wines, allowing her to experiment with grape varieties and terroirs beyond the Jura. Mystère is one such cuvée, made from Muscat d’Alexandrie grown in the Pyrénées.
ABV: 11.5%