Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru Aux Cheseaux 2023 Domaine Arlaud | Burgundy

At the northern edge of the Morey Saint Denis area, alongside the first parcels of Charmes-Chambertin, Domaine Arlaud 's Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Aux Cheseaux is rooted in a slope characterized by outcropping bedrock. The Aux Cheseaux climat owes its name to the Gallo-Roman term casale, which once referred to stony or built-up land, echoing the ruins and rock fragments still visible in the area. The Pinot Noir vines planted in 1980 plunge deep into these soils of clay-limestone marl mixed with white pebbles. This substrate, typical of northern Burgundy , favors regular ripening and naturally precise fruit. 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 healthiest, most beautiful berries, which here are entirely destemmed. After 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 Aux Cheseaux reveals a particularly refined and fruity face of the sector, with a charming elegance reminiscent of its prestigious neighbors. Particularly approachable in its youth, it will also age harmoniously for around fifteen years. Like me, wait 2 or 3 years before opening it, and you'll fall head over heels in love!

On the nose, the wine develops deep aromas of juicy black berries, with blackcurrants, blueberries and black cherries. Hints of licorice, sweet spices and carnation dot the pleasantly complex bouquet.

On the palate, this Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru unfurls a suave body, animated by an acid framework that balances the pulp of the fruit. Structuring tannins add a lovely chewiness to this fleshy wine, whose ripe berry and spice flavors coat the palate with persistent deliciousness.