Domaine de L'Arlot 'Clos de L'Arlot Blanc' 1er Cru, Nuits Saint George 1er Cru, Burgundy, France

Domaine de L'Arlot 2020 'Au Leurey' Côte de Nuits Villages Blanc, Burgundy, France

Farming: Biodynamic

Name of Winemaker/Chef du Cave: Géraldine Godot

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay

Terroir: The terroir of the Clos de l'Arlot blanc is rugged and rocky. The hillsides are so steep that all work on the vines, often performed with the help of machinery, is done by hand here. 

Vinification/Oak Usage: Native yeast fermentation at low temperature to capture the best of the fruit character of the grapes and express the radiance of the great Chardonnay.

Aging: 12 months in oak barrels, with 20% new barrels, and 3 months in vats before bottling.

Tasting Notes: The nose is ripe and exotic, with aromas of pear and green apple and familiar notes of fresh flowers, apricot and Muscat grapes. This freshness is accompanied by generous hints of roast hazelnuts and brioche. This wine is fleshy on the palate, with notes of spices and citrus fruit, and offers soft minerality and pleasant salinity. Its combination of power and freshness make it perfect for laying down to be enjoyed in the future. -Géraldine Godot, Technical Director (July 2022)

History of the Domaine:

Located just south of Nuits Saint Georges, in the village of Prémeaux-Prissey, is Domaine de l’Arlot, a winery formally established in 1987, but with a history that extends over 100 years back to the late 19th century. The domaine is operated out of a 200 year old building found within the Clos de l’Arlot, a 4 hectare walled vineyard created by Jean-Charles Vienot at the end of the 18th century. His son later expanded the estate, and eventually the domaine came to hold two Premier Cru monopoles: Clos des Forets Saint Georges and Clos de l’Arlot, both located within Nuits Saint Georges. Today, these wines are a benchmark expression for the village of Nuits Saint George, showcasing the hearty complexities of Pinot Noir when grown in the limestone-laden Nuiton soils. Exceptionally, although in the heart of Pinot Noir country in Nuits, Domaine de l’Arlot has also come to be a force for Chardonnay production in the village, producing complex, forward and plush Chardonnays that are unlike any other in the Cote de Nuits. The winery’s biodynamic practices and hands-off approach to vinfication allow their fruit to shine, and each vineyard is vinified with respect to the power and finesse of its fruit.