Domaine de L'Arlot 'Clos des Forets' 1er Cru, Burgundy 2021

• Farming: Biodynamic
• Name of Winemaker/Chef du Cave:  Géraldine Godot
• Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir
• Soil Type: 7.2 HS monopole of the domaine. Ladoix limestone at the bottom, Premeaux limestone in the middle, and white oolite limestone in the upper part, with a marked presence of ochre silt in some places. This vineyard produces Pinot Noir of power, and benefits from some cellaring before enjoying.
• Vinification/Oak Usage: A manual harvest, minimal vatting, pumping over and punching down without excess to reveal the full aromatic range drawn from this great terroir. 
• Aging: Aging lasts on average 15 months in oak barrels, with a maximum of 50% new barrels, and 3 months in vats before bottling.
• SCORES: 93-95 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Forêts Saint Georges 1er Cru is more expressive than the Clos de l'Arlot on the nose: vivid scents of raspberry, cranberry, sous-bois and just a very slight steeliness. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, almost angular tannins, fresh and very tensile, quite saline to the extent where I fully agree that any stem addition would have been superfluous. Persistent and graceful on the finish, this is superb. (Drink between 2025-2042)" 01/23

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.