Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru 2023 Domaine Arlaud | Burgundy

In the historic heart of the Côte de Nuits, a clos founded as early as the ^11th century is home to one of Burgundy's oldest and most sought-after terroirs. Domaine Arlaud 's Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru originates in the original part of the clos, on a parcel whose clay-limestone soils favor a particularly fine expression of Pinot Noir. Vines planted over half a century ago produce naturally concentrated grapes. 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 in wooden vats using indigenous yeasts, with no external inputs, during a long cuvaison of almost a month. The wine then spends 16 to 18 months in oak barrels, of which no more than 30% are new.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Domaine Arlaud 's Clos Saint Denis is a bottle as rare as it is precious. Its silky finesse, remarkable balance and refined complexity are as seductive as its aromatic brilliance and genuine gourmandise. Cyprien Arlaud 's meticulous work on this terroir preserves the floral and mineral dimensions of the place. A great gastronomic wine, as dense as it is delicate, which will evolve harmoniously over the next 25 years.

On the nose, the wine unfurls an intense yet delicate bouquet of black fruits and fresh flowers, with blueberries, blackberries, violets and rose petals. As the wine opens, hints of cold stone and a well-integrated, slightly woody structure become apparent.

On the palate, this Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru displays a singular charisma, between full-bodied power and lacy texture. Satiny tannins marry suave black fruit flavors with a particularly silky chewiness. The floral profile of the nose continues on the palate with an afterglow of rose petal and iris, while the finish gains in intensity on a persistent mineral framework.