DOMAINE JAVET-JAVET - VULLY
- Tony Lcrx
- Oct 14
- 18 min read
COMPLETE 2022 TO 2024 TASTING NOTES
PRODUCER OVERVIEW
Etienne Javet represents the sixth generation of his family to farm vineyards in Vully, but he is the first to bottle his own wine—a distinction that defines everything about his approach. This isn't inherited tradition mechanically continued; this is earned passion realised against expectations.
Estate Details:
Total vineyard: 4 hectares
Farming: Certified biodynamic (10+ years of practice)
Philosophy: Adaptive élevage - each wine as a "child" with a unique personality
Location: Vully village, Lake Morat shore (Murtensee), Trois-Lacs region
Soils: Predominantly poor molasse with low clay content
Exposures: Varied - from lakeside warmth to hillside coolness
Recognition: Gault et Millau "Rookie of the Year" 2021
The Story:
Since childhood, Etienne dreamed of bottling the family's grapes rather than selling them. At just 19, while studying at Changins University, he began vinifying his first lots in a corner of the family cellar. The early results were promising enough that he committed fully to the vision.
His talent was recognised swiftly. In 2021, Gault et Millau named him "Rookie of the Year"—remarkable validation for someone barely into his twenties, confirming what early tasters already knew: this was exceptional work from an emerging master.
The Range:
What distinguishes Etienne from many Swiss vignerons is his remarkable diversity. While others focus narrowly on Chasselas and Pinot Noir, Etienne works with seven distinct wines across five varieties:
Whites:
Chasselas "L'Origine" (textural, intense)
Traminer "Savagnin Rose Aromatique" (Vully speciality, bone-dry)
Pinot Gris "Le son des Pierres" (sharp, stony, spice-driven)
Sauvignon Blanc (surprising, oak-aged)
Reds:
Pinot Noir "Aime Terre" (signature blend, his calling card)
Pinot Noir "Sur Chamba" (single parcel, lower slopes, delicate)
Pinot Noir "de Mur" (single parcel, upper slopes, structured)
This diversity isn't dilettantism—it's strategic. Etienne understands that Vully's varied terroir and microclimate can support multiple varieties when matched thoughtfully to the site. Each wine occupies its own niche, speaking to different occasions and preferences.
The Philosophy:
What sets Etienne apart from his peers is his refusal to think of wine solely in vineyard terms. Where many vignerons declare "wine is made in the vineyard" and minimise cellar intervention, Etienne sees viticulture and élevage as equally important.
His philosophy extends into ageing and vessel selection, where he applies the same thoughtful attention he brings to the vines. He doesn't follow a fixed recipe or house style. Instead, he selects the right vessel—specific tanks, carefully chosen barrels, for each lot, allowing every wine to express its unique personality.
This adaptive approach means his wines respond to vintage conditions rather than fighting against them:
Cool, precise 2021: Allowed to be crystalline and tense
Warm, generous 2020 and 2022: Express solar character without heaviness
Each vintage reaches its full potential by being exactly what it wants to be
The Work:
Etienne farms the land primarily himself with help from close family. There's no team of workers, no hired hands—just Etienne, his family, and four hectares of vines that receive constant attention. His hands reveal the intensity of this daily labour: calloused, strong, deeply connected to the land.
Yet his energy never wanes. He speaks about each plot, each vine, with poetic precision—able to discourse for hours on the subtle personality differences between neighbouring parcels. There's genuine love here, not just professional dedication.
He's never truly off duty. Even during tastings, his mind is partly in the vineyard, thinking about canopy management, shoot positioning, and biodynamic preparations. This is not a job; it's a passion calling.
