Producer: Domaine Arlaud
Region: Burgundy, France
Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir
Viticulture: Biodynamic
Category: Red
Size: 750 ml
Importer Notes:
The history of Domaine Arlaud started durng World War II, when Joseph Arlaud (originally from the Ardèche) met and fell in love with Renée Amiot, who came from a historic Burgundian family. Part of the couple’s wedding gifts were parcels of land in the Côtes de Nuits, centered around the top crus of Morey St. Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin. And so Domaine Arlaud was born. Joseph’s son, Hervé Arlaud, took over the estate in 1982 and expanded the domaine with more purchases of prime vineyards, mostly in their home village of Morey St. Denis. Today, the star of the show is Hevré’s son Cyprien, who in the last ten years, has come into his own as one of the most exciting growers in all of France.
Cyprien Arlaud took the reins of the domaine in 1997, and in the same year he was put in charge, he began the conversion of the estate to biodynamics (certified in 2014). He also began using horses to plough his vineyards in order to keep the soils as healthy and alive as possible, without the compaction that can come with the use of tractors.
"Roncevie" is a lieu-dit (vineyard) in the heart of Gevrey-Chambertin. In 1964, when the Gevrey appellation was reduced in size, the Arlaud family's parcel was declassified to Bourgogne Rouge simply because the family was from Morey and not Gevrey.
The surrounding "Roncevie" vineyards which encompass Arlaud's parcel, remain classified as Gevrey-Chambertin. (French inheritance laws require land to be split among heirs. Those surrounding domaines, which other producers own, are permitted to put the prestigious village name on their labels.) To add insult to injury, Domaine Arlaud's Roncevie parcel is a stone’s throw from Griottes-Chambertin, where all of the Grand Crus are found.
Stunning aromatics of rose petal, wild raspberry, and underbrush. The palate offers succulent red and dark cherry, wild strawberry, and orange rind. The fruit is lush balanced and not overripe. It has a lovely texture with fine, dusty tannins. This sensational vintage offers loads of energy and verve and an endless finish.
