Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru "Les Ruchots" 2021 Domaine Arlaud | Burgundy

Adjacent to the great slopes of Clos de Tart and Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares, Domaine Arlaud 's Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots rises from a rocky bed renowned throughout Burgundy for its Pinot Noirs. The Les Ruchots climat takes its name from the stony outcrops that line the hillside, known as "reuchaux" in Burgundian dialect. The old vines plunge their roots deep into this clay-limestone terroir typical of the Côte de Nuits, giving them exceptional natural density and regularity of ripeness. A pioneer of organic viticulture and then biodynamic viticulture in the Morey Saint Denis appellation, Cyprien Arlaud ensures exclusively natural care, from the vineyard to the winery. The grapes are harvested by hand, with successive sorting on three tables to retain only the finest berries, two-thirds of which are de-stemmed. After a pre-fermentation maceration, winemaking is carried out using indigenous yeasts, with no external inputs, during a long cuvaison of at least 3 weeks. The wine then spends 14 to 18 months in oak barrels, of which only 20% are new.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Domaine Arlaud 's Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots offers a mineral, structured side to the appellation. The low-intervention winemaking and measured ageing allow the personality of the site to shine through: the influence of the bedrock can be seen in the dense, upright structure of the Pinot Noir, which here develops breathtaking complexity and magnificent ageing potential. The natural power and depth of this cuvée place it at the pinnacle of Cyprien Arlaud's 1er Crus. Not to be missed!

On the nose, the wine offers an incredibly varied aromatic palette of ripe red and black fruits, noble spices, dried tobacco and a hint of roasting. The deep framework of undergrowth and graphite accents revealed by aeration augurs a magnificent evolution of truffle notes over time.

On the palate, this Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru mirrors the nose: dense and powerful, complex and racy. The full, velvety body is structured by a tight, delicately patinated tannic structure. Flavors infused with ripe berries and spices mingle with umami notes of undergrowth, culminating in an apotheosis of morello cherry, smoked tea and flint.