Domaine des Notes Bleues is a small estate in Mesnay, just outside Arbois in France’s Jura. It was founded in 2017 by Cédric Mottet, an Arbois native who first trained and played as a jazz musician before returning home to make wine—the name “Notes Bleues” is his nod to blue notes and improvisation. The domaine farms about 6.5 hectares and prefers to stay small to focus on quality.

Cédric’s goal is clear: grow healthy grapes and let each site speak. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2022, and harvests are by hand. Many wines come from single parcels, including old vines planted decades ago. Local marls and limestone shape the character of his Chardonnay, Savagnin, Pinot Noir, and Trousseau.

In the cellar he keeps things simple. Fermentations start with native yeasts. Whites typically age in older barrels and larger demi-muids for texture without heavy oak; some cuvées have even rested in seasoned American oak. Reds are usually raised in stainless steel and bottled young to keep fruit and freshness, with little or no added sulfur when conditions allow. The approach aims for clarity rather than power.

Look for site-named bottlings such as Les Nouvelles, Le Cul du Bray, Les Sarres, and Clos de Verreux. These wines offer a direct line to their vineyards and to Cédric’s story: careful farming, patient aging, and a musician’s feel for balance. If you’re curious about Jura, Notes Bleues is an inviting way in—thoughtful wines made by a winemaker with both feet in his region and an ear for rhythm.