Domaine de l'Arlot En Primeur 2021

As of the 2021 vintage, Clos de L’Arlot Blanc includes the vines behind the domaine that were previously used for La Gerbotte. There are two hectares of Chardonnay planted in Clos de l’Arlot, the domaine’s iconic, steeply sloping amphitheatre. The pink Prémeaux limestone contributes to this wine’s exuberant, broad, long-ageing character. Bright, crunchy white peaches, with zesty grapefruit lift. This really vibrates with energy. Picked 21st September. 20% new oak. Just nine barrels were made in 2021. Fermented in tank, then transferred to barrel by gravity. 

This comes from 1.5 hectares of vines in Comblanchien, on the plain. Lovely whole-bunch spice on the nose here, with bright raspberry fruit. The palate is very pure, red berried and with a creamy density, with a supple fruit-coating to the tannins. 35% whole-bunch fermentation. 14% abv.

This white limestone plot is located inside Clos de l’Arlot, at the top of the slope. It is named after the little passageway at the top of the vineyard, from which you can hear birdsong. The vines are around 20 years old. Previously called Le Petit Arlot and voluntarily declassified, the vines have now reached an age worthy of premier cru status. Smoky-mineral aromas (tasted from barrel), leading into a palate of sweet raspberry and fine, fruit-coated tannins. 40% new oak. This will be bottled in March 2023. 100% destemmed. Seven barrels were made. 

There are two hectares of Pinot Noir grapes here, alongside the two of white, planted on marl and free-draining pink limestone. Clos de l’Arlot is just north of Domaine Mugnier’s Clos de la Maréchale, in Prémeaux-Prissey, at the southern end of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Bright, pale ruby colour. Intricate spice aromas, notwithstanding the 100% destemming this year. The palate is finely red berried, ephemeral and delicate, with sappy tension and fresh, clipped acidity. Beautiful wine. 13 barrels were made.  

Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges is a 7.2 hectare monopole, owned exclusively by Domaine de l’Arlot. Whilst Clos de l’Arlot is from Prémeaux, this is from the centre of the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, further north. It is more deeply coloured and more immediately expressive, versus the more ephemeral style of Prémeaux. There is more clay in the soil here than at Clos de l’Arlot. A joyously red-berried wine in 2021, with supple delicacy of structure and fleshy generosity of fruit. 40% new oak.

The domaine has 0.85ha of Suchots, just opposite Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s plot of Richebourg. Soaring rose and raspberry aromas with orange rind. The palate is more powerful than the Prémeaux wines of the domaine, with a gorgeous, red-berried suppleness and fine-boned tannins. Nine barrels were made in 2021.