Follin Arbelet, Domaine
Summary
Domaine Follin-Arbelet is a small family-operated estate in Aloxe-Corton in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune, producing elegant Pinot Noir and refined Chardonnay from exceptional limestone and marl-rich vineyards, including parcels on the Hill of Corton. Despite owning plots in prestigious Grand Cru sites like Corton-Charlemagne and Corton-Bressandes, the domaine maintains a relatively low profile, focusing on traditional winemaking methods including hand-harvesting and careful oak aging to create authentic terroir expressions.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Follin-Arbelet is situated in the village of Aloxe-Corton in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune region. The estate represents the continuation of two families with deep viticultural roots in the region, the Follins and the Arbelets, whose history in Burgundian viticulture extends back multiple generations.
The domaine in its current form was revived in the late 1990s when Franck Follin-Arbelet took control of the family vineyards, which had previously been leased to other producers. Before dedicating himself to winemaking, Franck worked in the banking sector, eventually returning to his family's viticultural heritage. Today, Franck serves as both proprietor and winemaker, operating the domaine as a family business with his wife's involvement in the estate's operations.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Follin-Arbelet's vineyard holdings span several prestigious appellations in the Côte de Beaune. The estate owns parcels on the Hill of Corton, including plots in the Grand Cru vineyards of Corton and Corton-Bressandes for red wine production, as well as the esteemed Corton-Charlemagne for white wines. Beyond these Grand Cru sites, the domaine maintains vineyards in Pernand-Vergelesses and Savigny-lès-Beaune.
The vineyards feature the classic limestone and marl soil composition typical of the Côte de Beaune region, providing the mineral foundation that characterizes the wines from this area. Several parcels contain old vines, contributing to the concentration in the resulting wines. The domaine focuses exclusively on the traditional Burgundian varieties: Pinot Noir for red wines and Chardonnay for white wines.
The estate produces a range of wines across the Burgundian classification hierarchy, from village-level offerings to Premier Cru wines from Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses, culminating in their Grand Cru bottlings. Their Corton-Charlemagne stands as one of the domaine's signature wines.
Philosophy & Practice
Domaine Follin-Arbelet adheres to traditional Burgundian winemaking approaches, with practices designed to express the distinct terroir of each vineyard site. The estate employs hand harvesting across all their vineyards, ensuring careful selection of fruit.
In the cellar, the winemaking process follows time-honored techniques. For aging, the domaine uses oak barrels with the percentage of new oak varying according to the wine's classification level—higher proportions are typically reserved for the Grand Cru wines. The aging period for most wines ranges from 12 to 18 months before bottling.
The domaine maintains relatively small production volumes, consistent with their focus on quality and precision. This limited scale allows for attentive vineyard management and careful vinification. All wines carry the official Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designations corresponding to their respective vineyard sites, from village level through Premier Cru to Grand Cru classifications.