The story of Domaine Arlaud begins in 1942, during the Second World War, when Joseph Arlaud, originally from Ardèche, met Renée Amiot, a Burgundian from a historic winemaking family. Upon their marriage, they received several plots of land in the Côte de Nuits, notably in the renowned villages of Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin. This gift marked the birth of Domaine Arlaud, which officially became a family winery in 1949.
Their son Hervé took over the estate in 1983 and gradually expanded it, acquiring additional plots in the prestigious appellations of Morey-Saint-Denis. Since 2013, Cyprien Arlaud, the founders' grandson, has been at the helm. Passionate and visionary, Cyprien continues the high-quality practices initiated by his parents, while enhancing ecological methods such as organic and biodynamic farming. He has also refined the winemaking techniques, creating authentic wines that faithfully express their terroir.
Domaine Arlaud spans nearly 16 hectares, mostly planted with red grape varieties, spread across the communes of Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits. The soils of these plots are primarily limestone and clay-limestone, providing ideal conditions for producing great Burgundy wines.
A major asset of the estate is its complete conversion to organic farming in 2004, followed by biodynamic certification in 2014. This approach translates into a scrupulous respect for the soil and ecosystem, allowing the vines to thrive naturally. Horses are used for ploughing the Grand Cru and Premier Cru plots, preserving the soil structure and limiting the compaction caused by mechanisation.
This attention to detail has allowed the full potential of the unique terroirs of Morey-Saint-Denis and its surroundings to be revealed. The grapes from these soils, grown without pesticides or herbicides, produce wines of great purity, a faithful reflection of their terroir.
Winemaking at Domaine Arlaud is based on practices that respect both the fruit and the terroir, with minimal intervention to allow the grapes to fully express themselves. The grapes are harvested by hand and meticulously sorted to keep only the best bunches. Depending on the vintage, some grapes may be vinified whole, particularly for the Grand Crus, when the ripeness of the stems permits.
After harvesting, the grapes are carefully transported to the estate’s modern winery, located in Morey-Saint-Denis. The estate favours gravity-fed winemaking, without pumping, to preserve the integrity of the berries. Fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeasts and lasts around 20 days. Extraction is gentle, with minimal punching down, in order to produce elegant and balanced wines.
Ageing takes place in French oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, with a variable proportion of new wood depending on the cuvées: 15% for village appellations and up to 30% for the Grand Crus. The estate uses very little sulphur and no other oenological products, thus ensuring the authenticity and purity of the wines. Bottling is done without fining or filtration, often in accordance with lunar cycles to optimise their aromatic expression.
Domaine Arlaud produces a wide range of cuvées, from regional appellations to renowned Grand Crus. Here are the estate's main cuvées:
Grand Cru : Bonnes Mares Grand Cru ; Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru ; Clos de La Roche Grand Cru ; Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru
Premier Cru : Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Chatelots ; Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Noirots ; Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers ; Gevrey 1er Cru Aux Combottes ; Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards ; Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Aux Cheseaux ; Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes ; Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots
Village : Chambolle-Musigny ; Gevrey-Chambertin ; Morey-Saint-Denis
Régional : Bourgogne Aligoté ; Bourgogne Passetoutgrain ; Bourgogne Roncevie ; Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits
For wine lovers, certain vintages from Domaine Arlaud are particularly remarkable. Here are some years to watch out for: 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999…
In addition to Domaine Arlaud, the Morey-Saint-Denis region is home to many other prestigious estates worth exploring. Here is a selection of other renowned producers from the Côte de Nuits: Domaine Dujac, Domaine Ponsot, Domaine des Lambrays, Domaine Clos de Tart, Domaine Georges Roumier…
Domaine Arlaud epitomises Burgundian winemaking excellence, with meticulous attention paid to every stage of production, from vineyard work to bottling. Certified biodynamic, the estate produces wines of great purity, expressing the unique terroir of Morey-Saint-Denis. Lovers of elegant and authentic wines will not want to miss the estate’s various cuvées, especially its Grand Crus like Bonnes Mares, Clos de la Roche, and Clos Saint-Denis.