Domaine Croix & Courbet

Domaine Profile

  • Location: Nevy Sur Seille, Jura
  • Varieties: Savagnin
  • Viticulture: Purchased grapes, organic (certified or in conversion)
  • Vinification (Savagnin ouillé): Lightly crushed (depends on vintage), pressed with whole clusters, and lightly settled. Ambient yeast fermentation and aging in used barrels (228L or 500L) and/or cement eggs. Minimal SO2 addition before vinification and possibly before bottling.

David Croix and Damien Courbet’s friendship goes back about 20 years now. They met as they were both studying for their DNO diploma in Dijon, before either of them actually began farming or making wine. David, of course, then became the director of Maison Camille Giroud in 2002 and created his own Domaine des Croix in 2005, both in Beaune. Damien took over his family’s domaine in the Jura (Domaine Courbet).

Over the years, the two remained close, often using one another as a sounding board or tasting wines together. It wasn’t until 2019, though, that they decided to combine forces and make wine together. After a series of extremely challenging vintages and generational turnover in the Jura, enticing grape contracts were on Damien’s radar. David had always had a soft spot for Jura wines, and the opportunity to purchase impeccable, organically farmed (either certified or in conversion) grapes from great terroirs was too good for either of them to pass up. After years of working independently, the two were excited to work as a duo and create something entirely new. They made three wines in 2019, their first vintage.