Domaine Hauvette "Jaspe" Blanc 2023

Dominique Hauvette is a modern day renaissance woman of sorts. Growing up in Paris and spending the winters at her parents' hotel in the Savoie, she grew up giving skiing lessons and eventually settled into becoming an attorney—until sometime in the mid-to-late 80s when she went on a vacation to Provence. That trip never ended. She stayed and discovered her passion of working with horses and nature, began studying oenology, and eventually, started making wine on a small farm of about 3 hectares.

Today, Dominique’s Domaine Hauvette covers 17ha, all across Provence and nearby appellations. She’s been fully biodynamic since 2000, and together with her low intervention approach in the cellar, the wines capture a true high-quality representation of terroir of the Alpilles, a region between Provence and the Southern Rhône. It’s got everything you need to make the wines that people have been calling “benchmark” natural wines: rocky limestone soils, a hot and dry climate regulated by the strong winds of the Mistral ensuring temperatures are neither too hot, nor too cold. She was mentored by Eloi Dürrbach of nearby Domaine de Trévallon, and her close friendship with Loire winemakers like the Puzelats and Bretons have her consistently regarded among the top natural winemakers, and a real pioneer in her region.

Jaspe Blanc is 100% Roussanne, and a shoe-in for winner of 'best Roussanne in the world.' Aged in concrete eggs that Dominique has been employing for over two decades, far ahead of the trend. Dried apple ring, chamomile, golden currant, and sautéed shallot on the nose. The palate is viscous and savory with sultana fig and some eucalyptus on the finish. Bewitching and complex, drink now or age for 5-10 years. Nico Haunold & Jonathan Kemp