DOMAINE NØVICE
Poligny
Jura
Yves Roy has been interning at domaine Les Pieds sur Terre (Valentin Morel) for a couple of years, working alongside the best Poligny has to offer. As of 2020 he started his own label, Domaine Nøvice. The fruit comes from the 5 hectares of vines he purchased back in 2014 and that he has since converted to organic certified.
Currently he works exclusively with rather old vines of Savagnin and Poulsard, however, he recently planted new plots of Chardonnay, Trousseau and Pinot Noir. According to his estimation the young vines should become productive by 2025 and we are certainly looking forward to that!
The approach in the cellar is as low-interventionist as it can be. There is no place for any oenological product during the fermentation of the juices. No sulphur, no filtration (nor fining) and natural yeasts. The ageing generally lasts about a year, in vats first, then in barrels. In Yves own words, his wines are: "the direct expression of the grape varieties and the terroirs that faithfully reflect the climate that each vintage gave us".
The 2023 vintage saw autumn get cold earlier, which has resulted in a slightly hazier appearance, though it has had no adverse effects on the taste. With 2024 a tough year with frost wiping out almost all of Yves’ grapes, he turned to négoce for the year, with grapes sourced from a host of exciting likeminded growers. That means 2023 will likely be in high demand with a fallow year for them in the next release.
Jus de La Folie des Autres
Vintage 2024
Style Sparkling
Region Beaujolais
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 11.5%
Soils
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Owing to the frosts of 24, this year the Chardonnay grapes are sourced from Beaujolais. Fermentation is finished in tank at Brasserie Atmosphère after 3 weeks of cooling the juice down. No fining nor filtration.
Tasting Note A lovely weighty and round Pet Nat with notes of warm citrus, orchard fruits and fresh cut grass.
Jus de La Folie
Vintage 2025
Style Sparkling
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Chardonnay, Savagnin
ABV
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking As always, a collaboration with Brasserie Atmosphère, where fermentation completes in tank. This vintage sees Chardonnay and Savagnin, with a return to Jura grapes.
Tasting Note
Jus de La Vraie Folie
Vintage 2025
Style Sparkling Rose
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Villard Blanc, Villard Noir
ABV
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Grapes from hybrids, as the Jura continues to adapt, we see a first release using Villard Blanc and Villard Noir. As always with the Jus de La Folie lines, this is a collaboration with Brasserie Atmosphère. Fermentation finishes in tank before bottling in the unique beer bottles.
Tasting Note
Le Blanc
Vintage 2024
Style White
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Chardonnay, Savagnin
ABV
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking 2024 was a challenging year in the Jura, and Yves suffered more than most, losing almost all grapes. What he did salvage was vinified and bottle in one single cuvée, found here.
Tasting Note
Trouillot
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking A compelling Chardonnay from 50 year old vines planted in the Trouillot Batard lieu-dit in Poligny. The bunches of grapes are pressed whole and transferred to fiberglass tanks for fermentation. The wine ends up resting on fine lees in fibreglass for approximately 9 months until bottling.
Tasting Note A delicate Chardonnay with pure notes of gentle citrus and stone fruit aromas and a touch of nuttiness. The fruit is generous lifted a beautiful mineral intensity.
Boutasse
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking This cuvée takes its name from the lieu-dit from which the Chardonnay comes from: Boutasse. Similarly to Trouillot, the grapes are harvested and processed using whole bunches, The vines here are planted on iron and fossil-rich red limestone soils which give this wine a marked mineral imprint. Vinified and aged in stainless steel, bottled the following summer without any filtration, fining nor added sulphites.
Tasting Note
Ja Ja
Vintage 2023
Style Rose
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Poulsard
ABV 12%
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Essentially a direct press of Poulsard. Grapes for Ja Ja are de-stemmed and crushed with a light maceration of 2 hours then pressed using the free run juice. Fermentation occurs in fibreglass.
Tasting Note Burnt peach, orange-y in colour. The nose is extremely delicate with notes of sour cherry, burnt orange and a hint of sweet capsicum. In the mouth it’s focused and floral with drying yet gentle tannins for a grippy finish.
Antigel, La Syrah
Vintage 2024
Style Red
Region Ardeche
Varieties Syrah
ABV
Soils
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking 2024 brought frosts that destroyed much of Yves’ vineyards, so he turned to negoce and like minded friends to create the range Antigel, translating to ‘antifreeze’. Here we find Syrah at 600 metres with delicate extraction through carbonic maceration.
Tasting Note
Antigel, Le Pinot
Vintage 2024
Style Red
Region Dambach-la-Ville, Alsace
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking 2024 brought frosts that destroyed much of Yves’ vineyards, so he turned to negoce and like minded friends to create the range Antigel, translating to ‘antifreeze’. Here we have Pinot Noir from a friend in Alsace, which is transported back to Yves cellar. Grapes are destemmed. After maceration aging takes place in fibreglass tanks.
Tasting Note
Merci
Vintage 2023
Style Red
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Poulsard
ABV 12.5%
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking Merci is Yves’ straight Poulsard. Grapes come from old vines (50 years old) planted on a south and west facing slope at 250-300m. Fruit is fully de-stemmed and fermented over three weeks in fibreglass.
Tasting Note Redcurrant, crushed cranberry, tangerine peel. Juicy yet with attractive tension and character. Fruit forward on the attack, smoky on the finish.
One Shot
Vintage 2023
Style Red
Region Poligny, Jura
Varieties Trousseau, Poulsard
ABV 12.5%
Soils Lias marl, limestone
Farming Biodynamic
Winemaking This comes from old Trousseau and Poulsard vines planted in Trouillot Batard. It is an assemblage of the two varieties, with a 60/40 split in favour of the former. Fermented and vinified in fibrelass, bottled unfiltered, unfined and without any SO2.
Tasting Note Crunchy red cherry and raspberry fruit is lifted by a touch of earthy leather and bitters. Delicate but full of character and length.