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Château-Chalon is a commune in the Jura department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, eastern France.
The commune is perched on a cliff in the first fold of the Jura mountains. It is reached from the west by a road with numerous hairpin curves. Its location has earned it nomination as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
Although the west side of the village is a sheer cliff, the east side slopes gently away in vineyards known for their wine, including their white wine, Château-Chalon AOC.
The Château-Chalon AOC is dedicated exclusively to the production of vin jaune wine. There are other appellations within Jura that are permitted to produce AOC vin jaune, most notably the Côtes du Jura AOC, but Château-Chalon has specific regulations that are unique to this AOC. To begin with, the grapes must be harvested at brix levels that allow for a potential alcohol content of at least 12% in the finished wine; other regions will allow a minimum of 11.5%. While the grapes are harvested late, they are never botrytized, unlike other well known late harvest French wines such as Sauternes. After fermentation the wine must be stored for at least six years and three months prior to bottling. The majority of time is spent in wood casks that are only partially filled, allowing for a film of yeast, known as the voile or "veil", to develop across the surface. This voile yeast is similar to the benevolent flor yeast that is used in sherry production, and vin jaune shares some similarities in styles to sherry, though vin jaune is not fortified.
The producers of Château-Chalon are very particular about quality and will sacrifice an entire year's production, not making any wine, if the weather of a particular vintage was not favorable. In good years, production will average around 2000 hectoliters (52,835 gallons).
The vin jaune wine of Château-Chalon is known for its nutty flavors and aromas, and can develop additional curry notes as the wines ages due to presence of sotolon. The wine's yellow color ranges from pale to deep gold. The wines are often paired with the local AOC designated chicken from the nearby town of Bresse.