© Brett Jones

Jacques Puffeney in his vineyards in Montigny-les-Arsures.

The "pope" of Arbois, Jacques Puffeney has abdicated and his vineyards have been taken on by Guillaume d'Angerville.

Domaine du Pélican, the Jura estate belonging to the Marquis d'Angerville, has taken over 4.25 hectares (10.5 acres) of vineyards belonging to one of the region's most famous vignerons, Jacques Puffeney.

Known as the "pope of Arbois", Puffeney announced earlier this year that 2014 would be the last vintage that he would make and that, at almost 70 years old, he was semi-retiring.

It has been known in the region and by his importers that Puffeney has been looking for a successor for some time, as his own two daughters were not interested in taking on the estate.

Puffeney's vineyards are entirely located in the village of Montigny-les-Arsures, in the Arbois appellation and include all five of the Jura's grapes with a good-sized plot of prized Savagnin vines and both Poulsard and Trousseau red varieties.

The Domaine du Pélican was established in 2011 by Guillaume d'Angerville of Volnay, Burgundy, in conjunction with his winemaker and estate manager François Duvivier. They took over the 5-ha vineyard and winery of the Château de Chavanes, which was run biodynamically, at the same time taking over a further 5ha from Jean-Marc Brignot. However, the latter had to be extensively replanted as they were not in good shape.

Although not farmed organically, Puffeney stopped using herbicide some years ago and uses the minimum chemicals. He will retain a small plot of old vines that belonged to his father. Domaine du Pélican will start to convert Puffeney's vineyards to biodynamics in 2015.

Guillaume d'Angerville told Wine Searcher that he was excited and honored to be taking on Puffeney's vineyards, saying: "Jacques Puffeney is a great man and has made wonderful wines for many years. He will be a great loss to the Jura."

D'Angerville went on to say that this would not be the ending that Puffeney would have wished for, but that "we will make sure we are worthy of it [the vineyards]" and said that he was happy that Puffeney would be just around the corner to give advice.

The Domaine du Pélican currently makes three wines – Arbois Chardonnay, Arbois Savagnin Ouillé (non-oxidative) and a red blend. Its first vintage was 2012 and the 2013 is just about to be released. D'Angerville declared that 2014 was a superb year for the Jura providing great natural balance.

Neal Rosenthal of Madrose, the U.S. importer of Puffeney's wines for nearly 20 years and a close friend of Puffeney and his wife Monique, told Wine Searcher that he was disappointed and sad.

"He set the standard in so many ways, it is sad that we’re losing this fundamental and profound expression of the Jura that Puffeney represented." He went on to say: "I think Jacques waited too long to make the decision, I wanted to work with him and a local vigneron, but couldn't put together a deal in time."

The 2013 and 2014 wines remain in Puffeney’s cellar and Rosenthal will be shipping the 2013 vintage of the early releases next spring. Jacques Puffeney’s last wine will be his 2014 Arbois Vin Jaune, which due to the vin jaune rules, will not be released until 2021.