La Cuvée du Pépé 2008 - Jean-François Ganevat - Chardonnay under a veil of yeast

The Myth: Grandpa's Vintage

The Cuvée du Pépé from Domaine Jean-François Ganevat is one of the most legendary, extreme, and sought-after wines of the Jura. It embodies "Fanfan's" radical philosophy: allowing time and terroir to fully express themselves. This Chardonnay is a vibrant tribute to the estate's ancestral practices, producing a wine of intensity and complexity that transcend traditional standards.

Extreme Expertise: 13 Years Without Over-Drilling

The secret to this vintage lies in its extraordinary aging process: the wine is vinified without topping up (without adding wine to compensate for evaporation) for an astonishing 13 years! During this time, the wine is protected by its natural veil of indigenous yeasts. This process, which requires unique monitoring and expertise, gives the Chardonnay an oxidative patina of unparalleled finesse and power.

Terroir and Vintage 2008

The grapes come from Chardonnay vines over 80 years old, planted on marl soil. The 2008 vintage is generally recognized for producing wines of great tension and purity in the Jura. These qualities, combined with extended aging, give the 2008 "Pépé" tremendous energy and phenomenal power that maintain the wine's balance despite its oxidative character.

Tasting Notes: Intensity and Complexity

La Cuvée du Pépé is a wine that offers a totally captivating tasting experience:

• Dress: Intense, brilliant gold.
• Nose: Complex and deep, with intense aromas of nuts, spices, dried fruit, curry and saffron, enhanced by notes of smoke and caramel.
• Palate: Powerful and broad, with a full texture and controlled creaminess. The wine is a masterpiece of concentration, balanced by tremendous energy and saline tension. The finish is worthy of the greatest wines, long and persistent with complex flavors of noble oxidation.

Condition of the Bottle and Justification of the Vintage

ATTENTION: AVAILABLE FROM JANUARY 5, 2026

The wine is in excellent condition. The label is slightly torn near the vintage, a common issue with these bottles intended for aging. However, the 2008 vintage is guaranteed by the lot number printed on the bottle: Lot 08/13 (which corresponds to the 2008 vintage, bottled after 13 years of aging).

Food & Wine Pairings and Serving Suggestions

Serve at cellar temperature (15°C). Decanting for one hour is essential. This wine is often delicious on its own, but it can also accompany rich and robust dishes.

• Pan-fried foie gras.
• Dishes rich in morels or truffles.
• Hard and very mature cheeses (Vieux Comté).
• Thai or Indian cuisine rich in spices.