Andre-Jean Morin, Domaine de la Touraize

Ploussard La Cabane, Arbois, France

Andre-Jean Morin’s family have deep roots in Arbois. Winemaking has been passed down for 8 generations now (despite encouragement from well-meaning parents for their offspring to explore any other vocation that might be less fraught with challenges) so to say that he has a connection to the land is no boast.

Running the 15 hectare estate with his wife, Héléana, Andre-Jean’s philosophy is to make the wine as naturally as possible, with minimal intervention, so it is a pure expression of the region.

This means organic farming, a reliance on manual techniques in the field, wild yeast fermentation and very low dose SO2 in the cellar. The wines may be the product of a rich farming history, but they are juicy, young and bursting with attitude.

The ammonite logo on the bottles is a tribute to the “nice stones” that Andre-Jean would collect after his father would plough the land, and which he still has scattered around his house. You can see it for yourself on the Ploussard La Cabane, which we’ll be pouring throughout the month.