Taking a Jura-ney: Domaine de l’Octavin & Karnage Wines Explained

Let me introduce you to Alice Bouvot, the heart and soul behind Domaine de l’Octavin, based in Jura, France. She didn't start in vineyards; her first love was music, with the cello being her instrument of choice. Growing up, she spent her days at the conservatory of Besançon, and this love for music has seeped into her winemaking. The treble clef is the symbol of Domaine de l’Octavin, and many of her wine names are inspired by Mozart's operas, like Zerlina, Pamina, Tamino, and Reine de la Nuit.

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Source: Winemaker Alice Bouvot of Domaine de l’Octavin. / ©Cecilia Magnusson (https://www.openingabottle.com/a-visit-with-alice-bouvot-of-domaine-de-loctavi)

But music was just the beginning. Alice decided to dive deep into the world of wine, studying agronomy and oenology in Bordeaux. She earned a National Diploma of Oenologist and spent three exciting years traveling through vineyards around the globe. By the time she was 30, she felt ready to put down roots back in the Jura, specifically in Arbois, where she co-founded Domaine de l’Octavin with Charles Dagand in 2005. By 2015, Alice was running the show solo, with the winery already boasting organic certification since 2006 and biodynamic certification from Demeter since 2007.

Alice's approach to winemaking is all about emotion and sensitivity. She firmly believes that organic and biodynamic practices are the way to keep the soil alive and balanced, which in turn, makes her wines truly special. At Domaine de l’Octavin, there's no room for artificial inputs or filtration – everything is as natural as it gets. 

Even though her wines can be found in some of the best restaurants in the world, for Alice, wine is not about fancy words; nothing you need to learn on a course or by getting a sommelier degree, it’s not about learning to find faults. You just have to be curious and find out if you like the wine or not. -openingabottle.com

Empty bottles in the rain outside Domaine de l’Octavin./ ©Cecilia Magnusson

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What really fascinates me is how Alice handles each harvest. There's no fixed recipe. Some whites are pressed directly in whole bunches, while others are macerated like reds for several months. Reds undergo long infusions before pressing, and all wines mature without filtration or added sulfites, following the lunar calendar's guidance. 

But Alice's passion doesn't stop at her own vineyards in Arbois. She buys grapes right off the vine, making sure they’re either in conversion or already certified organic. The vinification process stays true to her principles – no inputs, no filtration.

For wine lovers in Malaysia, Alice's journey offers a delightful peek into the world of natural wines. Welcome to Domaine de l’Octavin – where you get bottles with minimal intervention and zero/zero winemaking—no sulphur, no pump-overs, and no temperature control whatsoever, to produce the most wonderfully exotic flavours & aromas, to compliment a delicate, silky body of wine. 

Limited Edition - with extremely limited stock

Here are our top picks: 
DOMAINE DE L'OCTAVIN CARIBOOM 2021

Strawberries, red cherries, blueberries, fruit candies and floral on the palate with a hint of funk on the finish. A little bit effervescent. High acidity and low tannins. Light-medium body, light, fruity and easy to drink. 

DOMAINE DE L'OCTAVIN CIGOGNE PINK LABEL 2021

A lot of grapefruit, some under ripe strawberry and red plum. Citrusy, grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, etc. Minerals and gravel along with hibiscus and some white flowers elderflower, jasmine and chamomile.

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Also from Jura, France: 

Karnage is all about creating vibrant, health-conscious wines that are bursting with pure, untamed flavors. Unlike traditional wineries, Karnage doesn’t own its vineyards. Instead, they source top-quality grapes from various regions across France, ensuring diversity and richness in every bottle. This innovative approach was inspired by Charles’s past challenges, where entire grape harvests were lost to disease and frost.

Karnage’s winemaking philosophy centers on producing natural, energetic wines that are as health-conscious as they are delicious. They source their grapes through recommendations from esteemed winemakers like Anthony Tortul of La Sorga, ensuring the highest quality produce. Don't worry, this dedication to excellence can be proven in more words - it's evident in every sip 🥰 

Here are our top picks: 

KARNAGE KROSEILLE 2021

Evoking the sensation of drinking fresh fruit juice. Lively notes of blueberry and redcurrant mingle with nuances of fresh apple, mint, lemongrass and a hint of yeasty rice from its sediment. Remarkable volume and refreshing acidity.

KARNAGE KEWAUX 2022

AROMATIC-JUICE-BOMB. Very lively and juicy with lychee orange grapefruit. Nice expression. Silken tannins for one. Incredibly complex. Who said natural / so2 free wine doesn’t age well? Nobody from Vyne, that's for sure 😉

KARNAGE KARI 2021

A jammy, fruity bottle tasting of cranberry cocktail, tangerine pith, anise spice & a whiff of dusty potpourri with soft tannins and a slightly savoury finish. 

KARNAGE IKOR PET NAT 2021

Fruity, refreshing, Pétillant Naturel wine. These wines are all about returning to basics with natural, unfiltered, and often cloudy goodness. Plus point: Goes exceptionally well with satay! 

Browse here! Keen to try your very own bottle? Grab yours now =)