2020 Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Chardonnay Patchwork

Region: Jura, France

Grape: Chardonnay

Culinary Suggestions: Comte Cheese, Roast Pork, Grilled Seafood

Vineyard Practice: Biodynamic

About

If you haven't tried the wines from the Tissot family, you're missing out. These guys are doing things their own way and producing some seriously delicious "small batch-single site" wines. Stéphane is a true rebel in the wine game, and his wild ferments, extended lees contact, and reductive handling create some of the most unique and delicious wines.

But it's not just their winemaking approach that sets them apart. The Tissot family is serious about quality. They plant savagnin and reds on clay to increase acidity, and grow chardonnay on both clay and limestone, fermenting it with wild yeast in a reductive style that's just wild. Plus, they prioritise biodynamic vineyard management and low yields to ensure top-notch quality.

Stéphane and his wife Bénédicte have worked tirelessly for the past 25 years to propel the Tissot domain to new heights. Stéphane is a "human firework," according to renowned writer and journalist Andrew Jefford, exploding with energy, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to his craft. The Tissot family is the real deal, and their wine is a testament to their passion and expertise.

Tasting Notes

Patchwork of sites for chardonnay. Organic/biodynamic farmed, zero sulphur as often is the way with Tissot.

It’s a lean and lighter expression but stacked with flinty, smoky elements and very saline overall. Green apple is the fruit connection, the rest is all stones and river pebbles and mineral water and brine. Racy, succulent to a puckering feel and ticklish to finish. It’s a distinct Patchwork release, complex but in a more quiet and compact frame. I still dig it. Lots.

94 points - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front February 2023

Drink: 2023 - 2035