At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Jura
- Appellations
- Arbois and Macvin du Jura
- Village
- Arbois
- Main grapes
- Trousseau and Poulsard
- Signature wine
- Instant Flora Trousseau
- Defining feature
- Frédéric Foret's giant metal clavelin sculpture
The Producer
Domaine Foret is a roughly seven hectare estate in Arbois, owned and managed by Frédéric Foret. He tends the vines and bottles the wine himself. The domaine's red wines place Trousseau and Poulsard at the centre of the named range, with Instant Flora as its Trousseau cuvée.
Place
Domaine Foret's listed address is 13 rue de la Faïencerie, 39600 Arbois. The estate works under the Arbois and Macvin du Jura appellations and offers the full range of Jura wines. Tastings and sales take place at the property.
Soil And Site
The estate's named vineyard detail is limestone scree beneath the vines used for Instant Flora Trousseau 2018. Limestone scree consists of broken rock, allowing water to move through the ground readily. Older vines generally produce smaller crops with more concentrated fruit, giving site and vine age a direct place in the bottle's definition.
Story
In 1885, wine grower Elie Foret planted the estate's first vines. The domaine now cultivates all five Jura grape varieties using sustainable farming, extending that original vineyard work across the full regional palette.
Vineyards And Cellar
Sustainable farming is part of the estate's vineyard work. The lieu dit Les Corvées was once owned by an Arbois abbey before the French Revolution, when peasants performed compulsory labour there.
Instant Flora 2020 was raised entirely in tank without barrel ageing, a choice made to emphasise its fruit. Domaine Foret Poulsard 2023 received an élevage of 12 to 16 months, giving that cuvée a longer cellar period than a short young wine release.
Wines
The red range includes Instant Flora Trousseau in the 2014 and 2018 vintages, alongside Domaine Foret Poulsard in 2016. Instant Flora 2020 is made from 100% Trousseau. Poulsard 2023 comes from the Curon lieu dit and is lightly sparkling.
The bottles therefore move between two Jura red grapes and between broader cuvée names and named vineyard places. Arbois and Macvin du Jura extend the appellation range beyond the red wines.
In The Glass
Instant Flora Trousseau 2020 brings spice, liquorice, blueberry, cherry and blackberry, with a slight yoghurt note on the palate. It is substantial and juicy, with full body, velvety tannins and a long fruity finish that suits drinking now or later.
Instant Flora Trousseau 2018 has a raspberry coloured robe and aromas of rosebud, pepper and cherry juice. Liquorice marks the palate, while the tannins need time before wild raspberry and redcurrant emerge. Rose, violet and peony add freshness through the finish.
Domaine Foret Poulsard 2023 shows garnet colour with orange reflections and a nose led by cherry. Its palate is supple and easy drinking, with persistent morello cherry character. The 2015 Curon Poulsard offers a slightly tight, aromatic nose with fine richness, violet, rose, blackberry and small red berries.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Instant Flora Trousseau 2018. It comes from the mature vines on limestone scree and received a ten day maceration followed by tank ageing. The bottle brings a named grape, a defined vineyard ground and a stated cellar method together in one Arbois red.
Anecdote
In 2012, Frédéric Foret installed a sculpture he had designed and built himself at the entrance to Arbois. It is a giant metal clavelin bottle with an accompanying glass, displayed beside Route Nationale 83. The sculpture weighs three tonnes and measures nearly six metres long. Since its installation, the bottle has served as an emblem of the village.
Final Word
Domaine Foret is an Arbois domaine with five Jura grape varieties, sustainable farming, named sites and red wines built around Trousseau and Poulsard.
Sources
1. https://www.jura-vins.com/details-domaine-domaine-foret-ARBOIS,283.htm 2. https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/producteurs/1660/dom-foret/ 3. https://www.la-forestiere.com/the-domaine-forest-official-winemaker-of-the-forestcime/ 4. https://les5duvin.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/jura-rouge-et-jaune/ 5. https://www.vinum.eu/fr/vin/recherche-de-vins/degustationsnotizen/dn/show/10166193/ 6. https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/les-vins/dom-foret-trousseau-2020-instant-flora-les-corvees-2020-2024/202472019/ 7. https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/les-vins/dom-foret-poulsard-2023-2025/202572019/ 8. https://vertdevin.com/en/vins/domaine-foret-poulsard-2015-lieu-dit-curon-arbois/