Summer of Jura - These Whites & Reds Pair Perfectly with Summertime

Remember the Summer of Riesling promotional campaign? That was fun, if a bit gimmicky. Riesling in the summer is a no-brainer, and I'm always keeping my eye out for delicious and crisp rose wines to combat the insane heat and humidity here in the mid-Atlantic. 

But this year I've been approaching summer sipping a bit differently: with Jura wines. 

Whites from grapes like Chardonnay and Savagnin provide oodles of minerality, brisk acidity, and tart fruit flavors. And the reds from this fascinating region in Eastern France work well in the heat as well. These wines (made from grapes like Pinot Noir, Trousseau and Poulsard) are not dense, heavy, extracted reds. Many of them drink like pink wines, with refreshingly lip-smacking flavors, and they taste delicious when chilled.

I've recently tasted through some beautiful Jura wines from my personal collection during the heat of this summer, and both worked really well.

2010 Domaine de la Pinte Arbois - France, Jura, Arbois
$20
Funky, medicinal and herbal liqueur aromas (I mean that in a good way), with tart red apple and white cherries. Light tannins at this point in its life, brisk acidity keeps this wine intensely bright and lip-smacking. Love the white and red cherry fruit, but at this point it's all about the earth, tobacco, herbal and spice components. Fun stuff, the Kevins and Ian dug this wine, too. We drank it chilled on a Saturday afternoon beach day in Atlantic City. This was a new, absurd, and awesome experience. Life is good. I'm not sure I'd age this much longer, though, but it's kicking. (90 points)

2012 Domaine de la Borde Arbois Pupillin Côte de Caillot - France, Jura, Arbois Pupillin
$30
Medium gold color. The aromas are KILLING IT: Gorgeous mix of orange marmalade, lemon curd, shaved ginger, sea brine and crushed shells. On the palate, a waxy mouthfeel combines with brisk, bracing acidity, and the presentation is beautiful. Flavors of orange peel, lemon curd, salted lime and green apple glide across the palate with ease. Flavors of chalk, minerals, sea salt, brine, smoked herbs, honeyed tea, dried nuts, ginger - this is a complex ball of goodness that also seems effortless. Gorgeous stuff with a long finish. Must get more for the cellar. I drank this on a sweltering hot DC. (94 points)