The Cooper's Second Act
Domaine La Patelle is one of the most exciting new names in the Jura — a 6-hectare biodynamic estate on the outskirts of Arbois, founded in 2021 by Pascal Théreau, a former cooper who spent years crafting barrels for the region's top producers before deciding to make the wine himself. Pascal studied oenology in Beaune in 2018, then worked alongside Stéphane Tissot, sharpening his skills in one of the Jura's most exacting cellars. In 2021, he had the opportunity to establish his own project on the site of Domaine des Bodines, whose vineyards had been farmed biodynamically for over 15 years by Alexis and Emilie. Pascal continued their meticulous work, tending to parcels of Chardonnay and Savagnin on limestone soils, and Pinot Noir, Poulsard, and Trousseau on the classic Jura clay marl. In 2022, he expanded by acquiring additional parcels from Stéphane Tissot, bringing the estate to just under 6 hectares. The name "La Patelle" comes from a ruined kiosk — "Le Kiosque" — in the Tourillons vineyard, which overlooks Arbois. Pascal restored it using an old postcard as reference, and the image now adorns every bottle. In the cellar, you might expect only barrels from a former cooper, but Pascal is far more eclectic: stainless steel, amphorae, foudres, barriques, fiberglass, and even diamond-shaped concrete tanks all play a role. The style is reminiscent of Philippe Bornard's textural, open whites with a kiss of reduction, and Etienne Thiebaud's dark, juicy, smoky reds. These are clean, precise, dynamic wines that already feel classic — the work of a vigneron who arrived fully formed, with decades of craft in his hands and a clear vision in his mind.
From Barrel Maker to Bottle Maker
Pascal Théreau's journey to winemaking was unconventional. For years, he worked as a cooper — the artisan who crafts oak barrels — sourcing wood and building barrels for many of the Jura's top producers. This gave him an intimate understanding of oak, fermentation, and the relationship between vessel and wine that most winemakers only learn secondhand. But Pascal wanted to go further. In 2018, he enrolled in oenology school in Beaune, formalising the knowledge he had gained through years of hands-on work [^113^][^114^].
His apprenticeship at Domaine Stéphane Tissot was the crucible. Working alongside one of the Jura's most exacting and innovative winemakers, Pascal learned biodynamic viticulture, natural fermentation, and the precision that defines Tissot's 28 cuvées. The experience shaped his own approach: organic and biodynamic farming, indigenous yeasts, minimal intervention, and an absolute refusal to add sulfur or other chemicals. When the opportunity arose in 2021 to take over the vineyards of Domaine des Bodines — whose owners Alexis and Emilie had farmed biodynamically for over 15 years — Pascal seized it. The estate was born [^111^][^114^].
The name "La Patelle" comes from "Le Kiosque" — a ruined bandstand in the Tourillons vineyard that overlooks Arbois. Local winemakers have long used it as shelter from the elements while working the vines. Pascal restored the structure using an old postcard as his guide, and the image now appears on every bottle label. It is a symbol of the domaine's connection to place, history, and the practical realities of vineyard life. In 2022, Pascal expanded the estate by acquiring additional parcels from Stéphane Tissot, bringing his total holdings to just under 6 hectares. The second vintage (2022) already showed a clear focus and level of attention to detail that made the wines feel timeless, not new [^113^][^114^].
"This marks just the second vintage of Pascal's wines, but they already show a clear focus and level of attention to detail that make them feel like classic, timeless wines."
— Jeff DiLorenzo, Chambers Street Wines
Arbois, Two Terroirs, One Vision
The estate's approximately 6 hectares are divided between two distinct terroirs in and around Arbois. Les Tourillons is the estate's most recognisable vineyard — a south-facing slope overlooking the town, rich in limestone, planted to Chardonnay and Savagnin. This is the site of the famous "Le Kiosque" bandstand, and it produces wines of mineral clarity and fine tension. The limestone soils give the whites a flinty, almost Chablis-like backbone, while the exposure ensures full phenolic ripeness [^113^].
Les Bodines, the original site of the domaine, sits on mostly clay and limestone soils and is planted with Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard, and Savagnin. The clay marl is the classic Jura red wine terroir — warmer, more water-retentive, and ideal for the region's native varieties. The Pinot Noir here grows on red marl slopes and steep hillsides, producing wines of surprising structure and dark fruit. The Poulsard and Trousseau find their natural home in these soils, expressing the wild, earthy character that defines Jura reds. In 2022, Pascal added parcels from Stéphane Tissot, further diversifying his holdings and deepening the estate's connection to the Arbois appellation [^113^][^114^].
Farming is certified biodynamic, continuing the work begun by Alexis and Emilie at Domaine des Bodines over 15 years ago. No synthetic chemicals, no herbicides, no heavy machinery. The vineyards are worked by hand, with careful attention to soil health and biodiversity. Pascal's background as a cooper gives him a unique perspective on the relationship between vine, wood, and wine — he understands oak not as a flavouring agent but as a living material that breathes, shapes, and ages wine. This understanding informs every decision in the vineyard and cellar [^111^][^113^].
The estate's most famous vineyard, overlooking Arbois from a south-facing limestone slope. Planted to Chardonnay and Savagnin, this site produces whites of mineral tension and fine acidity. The limestone soils are rich in calcium, giving the wines a distinctive flinty character. The "Le Kiosque" bandstand — restored by Pascal using an old postcard — is a local landmark and the namesake of the estate's flagship Chardonnay.
The original domaine site, on clay-limestone soils planted to Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard, and Savagnin. The clay marl is ideal for the Jura's native red varieties, producing wines of earthy depth and wild fruit. The red marl slopes give the Pinot Noir unusual structure and dark colour for the region. This is where Pascal's reds achieve their most distinctive character — juicy but savoury, with smoky, leafy undertones.
In 2022, Pascal acquired additional parcels from Stéphane Tissot, bringing the estate to just under 6 hectares. These new holdings, farmed biodynamically under Tissot's exacting standards, have been seamlessly integrated into Pascal's vision. The expansion allows for greater diversity of cuvées and more precise parcel selection, while maintaining the estate's intimate, hands-on scale.
The vineyards had been farmed biodynamically for over 15 years before Pascal took over, and he has maintained and deepened this commitment. No synthetic chemicals, no herbicides, manual harvest, native plant diversity between rows. The soil is alive, the vines are healthy, and the grapes arrive in the cellar in pristine condition — the foundation of natural winemaking without sulfur or additives.
Eclectic Vessels, Precise Hands
Given Pascal's background as a cooper, one might expect a cellar dominated by oak. Instead, Domaine La Patelle is a museum of fermentation vessels: stainless steel tanks, amphorae, large foudres, barriques, fiberglass tanks, and even diamond-shaped concrete vats. Each vessel is chosen for the specific character it imparts, and each cuvée is matched to the container that will best express its terroir. This eclecticism is rare in a young estate, and it speaks to Pascal's confidence and curiosity [^113^].
Fermentations are spontaneous, driven by indigenous yeasts that develop naturally in the biodynamic vineyards. No selected yeasts, no enzymes, no chaptalisation, no acidification. The wines are not fined or filtered, and no sulfur is added at any stage. Pascal's approach is minimal intervention with maximal attention — he watches, waits, and intervenes only when necessary. The result is wines that are clean and precise but also expressive and dynamic, with an energy that reflects both the vineyard and the vigneron [^111^][^117^].
The white wines — Chardonnay and Savagnin — are textural and open, with a kiss of reduction that adds complexity without dominating. The style has been compared to Philippe Bornard's whites: generous, layered, and deeply satisfying. The reds — Pinot Noir, Poulsard, and Trousseau — are pure and exuberant, with a dark, smoky element that recalls Etienne Thiebaud's wines at Domaine des Cavarodes. The Pinot Noir "Dévers" is fresh-fruited and elegant, grown on red marl slopes. The Poulsard "Poids Plume" is light, charming, and full of soft red fruit. The Trousseau "Bout d'Vin" is juicy and savoury, with leafy, smoky undertones [^113^][^119^].
Pascal's most recognisable cuvée is "Le Kiosque" — a Chardonnay from the Tourillons vineyard that captures the limestone terroir with clarity and finesse. Full-bodied, soft, and rich, it is a layered and contemplative wine that brims with energy and personality. The 2022 vintage, Pascal's second, was described as "a stunner" — proof that the domaine had found its voice almost immediately. These are not wines that need time to find their identity; they arrived fully formed [^112^][^116^].
The Kiosque — Restoring History
In the Tourillons vineyard, overlooking the town of Arbois, stands a small bandstand known locally as "Le Kiosque." For generations, winemakers working the steep limestone slopes have used it as shelter from rain, sun, and wind — a practical refuge in a demanding landscape. When Pascal took over the vineyard, the kiosk was in ruins. He found an old postcard showing the structure in its original form and used it as a blueprint for restoration. Today, the restored kiosk stands as a symbol of the domaine's philosophy: respect for history, attention to detail, and the practical wisdom of those who work the land. The image of Le Kiosque appears on every bottle of Domaine La Patelle, a reminder that great wine is made not just in the cellar but in the vineyard, in the rain, in the sun, and in the small shelters that make the work possible.
Instant Classic, Old Soul
What distinguishes Domaine La Patelle from other new Jura producers is the sense that these wines have always existed. The second vintage (2022) was received with the kind of acclaim usually reserved for established estates with decades of history. Critics noted the "clear focus and level of attention to detail," the "classic, timeless" quality, and the "energy and personality" that ran through every cuvée. This is not hype — it is the result of Pascal's unique path: years as a cooper, formal training in Beaune, apprenticeship with Stéphane Tissot, and the good fortune to inherit biodynamically farmed vineyards from Domaine des Bodines [^114^].
The estate's style sits at the intersection of several Jura traditions. The whites recall Philippe Bornard's textural, open expressions — generous, layered, and deeply satisfying. The reds echo Etienne Thiebaud's dark, juicy, smoky character — savoury and complex. Yet there is also a Tissot-like precision in the winemaking, a cleanliness and focus that prevents the wines from becoming rustic or unfocused. Pascal has absorbed the best of his influences and distilled them into something distinctly his own [^113^].
At just under 6 hectares, Domaine La Patelle remains small enough for Pascal to tend every vine, watch every fermentation, and make every blending decision himself. The future is focused on refinement: exploring the potential of each parcel, experimenting with new vessels, and continuing the biodynamic work that underpins everything. The 2023 vintage has already introduced new cuvées and deepened the estate's range. For a domaine that is only a few years old, La Patelle has achieved something remarkable — it feels not like a beginning, but like a continuation of a story that has been unfolding for generations [^111^][^114^].
"The style of Domaine La Patelle reminded us of some of the wines Philippe Bornard used to make, textural, open styles of white Jura with a kiss of reduction."
— Progression Wines
The Domaine La Patelle Range
All wines are farmed biodynamically, hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and bottled without fining, filtration, or added sulfur. The range covers all five traditional Jura varieties, with cuvées named after specific parcels or concepts. Production is small and vintage-variable — each wine reflects its specific terroir and Pascal's evolving vision [^111^][^113^].