Domaine Arlaud : Clos de la Roche Grand cru 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Clos de la Roche 2022 Domaine Arlaud

Tasting

Color

The wine shows a deep ruby color, dense and concentrated, typical of a pinot noir grown on a rocky, high-quality terroir.

Nose

The nose opens on red berry fruit, layered with notes of forest floor and spice, offering a bouquet that is both fresh and earthy.

Palate

On the palate, the wine reveals a structured profile supported by fine, well-integrated tannins, leading into a long aromatic finish that lingers pleasantly.

Food and wine pairings

This Grand Cru pairs beautifully with roasted game birds seasoned with mild spices, pan-seared foie gras with black truffle, or a rosy-cooked rack of lamb with an herb crust. It also shines alongside mushroom-based dishes, such as a wild mushroom risotto, and goes nicely with well-aged hard cheeses like a 24-month Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Clos de la Roche 2022 should be stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 12 and 15°C (54–59°F). According to the estate, this Grand Cru has an aging potential of 10 to 15 years, making it a wine built for the cellar as much as for current enjoyment.

Other characteristics

This wine reaches 13% alcohol by volume and is bottled in a standard 750 ml format. It is produced under organic and biodynamic farming practices, with the domaine's Grand Crus included among the vintage's Demeter-certified cuvées.

A Morey-Saint-Denis Grand Cru Shaped by Limestone-Clay Terroir and Precise Craftsmanship

The Estate

Domaine Arlaud was founded in 1942 following the marriage of Renée Amiot and Joseph Arlaud, laying the foundation of this family estate in Morey-Saint-Denis, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Today led by Cyprien Arlaud, who has overseen the property alone since 2013, the domaine cultivates 17 hectares across 19 appellations, including four Grand Crus. Known for its organic and biodynamic approach, Domaine Arlaud plows its top parcels with horses and hand-ties every vine on its Premier and Grand Cru plots.

The Vineyard

The Clos de la Roche cuvée comes from a tiny 0.43-hectare parcel located in the northern part of the climat, bordering Latricières-Chambertin. The soil is a limestone-clay mix, with a shallow but generous limestone subsoil and an exposed rock outcrop that gives the climat its name. Classified as Grand Cru since 1936, this plot is farmed organically and biodynamically, with horse plowing and hand-tied vines reflecting the estate's attentive, low-impact approach to viticulture.

Winemaking and aging

For Clos de la Roche 2022, grapes are harvested by hand into small crates and sorted across three successive sorting lines to ensure optimal fruit quality. Roughly a third of the harvest is kept as whole clusters, with the remainder destemmed but not crushed, before fermenting in an open wooden vat with indigenous yeasts. Extraction is kept gentle, relying on punch-downs and pump-overs, followed by slow pressing in a pneumatic press. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for 15 to 18 months, with no more than 20% new wood, and bottled according to lunar cycles, without fining or filtration.

Grape Variety

This cuvée is produced from 100% pinot noir.