Arlot, Domaine
Summary
Domaine de l'Arlot operates 14 hectares of prime vineyards in southern Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée, focusing primarily on Pinot Noir from limestone-clay soils including two monopole premier crus: Clos de l'Arlot and Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges. The biodynamic-certified estate employs traditional methods including horse plowing, whole-cluster fermentation (30-100%), and native yeast fermentation in open-top wooden vats, allowing each vineyard's distinctive character to express itself through minimal intervention winemaking.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Arlot was established in 1987 when AXA Millésimes, the wine investment arm of the French insurance company AXA, acquired the historic property in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The estate's core vineyards had previously belonged to the Jean Belin family, who had maintained ownership for several generations. The domaine takes its name from the Clos de l'Arlot, a walled vineyard that serves as the heart of the estate.
Under AXA's ownership, Jean-Pierre de Smet led the domaine from 1987 to 2006, establishing its reputation for precise, terroir-driven wines. Olivier Leriche succeeded him as technical director from 2006 to 2011, followed by Jacques Devauges for a brief period. Since 2014, Géraldine Godot has served as technical director, bringing her experience from Domaine Leflaive and training in both enology and agronomy to guide the estate's continued evolution.
The domaine is headquartered in a historic 18th-century building in Prémeaux-Prissey, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges proper, where both winemaking facilities and aging cellars are located.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Arlot manages 14 hectares of vineyards, primarily in the southern sector of Nuits-Saint-Georges and in neighboring Vosne-Romanée. Their holdings include two Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru monopoles (exclusively owned vineyards): the 4-hectare Clos de l'Arlot and the 5.5-hectare Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges, both situated in Prémeaux-Prissey.
In Vosne-Romanée, the domaine owns parcels in the Premier Cru Les Suchots (0.85 hectares) and a small 0.25-hectare plot in the Grand Cru Romanée-Saint-Vivant. The domaine also produces village-level wines from both appellations.
The vineyards feature limestone-clay soils typical of the Côte de Nuits, with variations in the limestone-to-clay ratio across different sites. The Clos de l'Arlot sits on a steep slope with shallow, stony soils, while the Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges has deeper soils with a higher clay content. Vine age averages 40-50 years across the estate, with some parcels containing vines over 70 years old.
Pinot Noir dominates the plantings, though the Clos de l'Arlot also contains Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay used for a distinctive white Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru.
Philosophy & Practice
Domaine Arlot has practiced organic viticulture since 2000 and received official biodynamic certification from Biodyvin in 2014. The vineyard team employs horse plowing in certain parcels to minimize soil compaction and maintains cover crops to promote biodiversity and soil health.
In the winery, the approach emphasizes minimal intervention to express vineyard character. Grapes are harvested by hand and undergo careful sorting before fermentation. Depending on the vintage and vineyard, the domaine uses varying percentages of whole clusters during fermentation, typically ranging from 30% to 100% for the premier and grand cru wines.
Fermentation occurs in open-top wooden vats using native yeasts, with gentle extraction methods including light punch-downs and pump-overs. Aging takes place in French oak barrels for 15-18 months, with new oak usage varying by wine: approximately 25-30% for village wines, 30-50% for premier crus, and up to 60% for the Romanée-Saint-Vivant.
The domaine bottles its wines unfined and with minimal filtration only when necessary. Annual production averages around 50,000 bottles, with significant vintage variation based on growing conditions.