Domaine Arlaud

Me looking strangely unhappy in cellar at Arlaud

That lovely fellow Cyprien Arlaud continues to improve every year with his winemaking; we like it when good stuff is made by lovely people. What is always fun here is tasting a range of Morey Premier Crus which display the real differences in terrior across the village. Of course, we like the Grand Crus as well! These are fascinating, properly beautiful and charming Burgundies. Buy some, I tell you, buy!

Some of these cask samples were reduced and needed racking, so I hope you will forgive me if my notes about them are brief. I like to think I am pretty good at tasting cask samples, but so often the wines can be unforthcoming. Don’t get me wrong, this was a great tasting and we all loved his wines. I’ve got an 07 Premier Cru in the wine cupboard to drink sometime. It’ll be soon. You cannot go wrong with Cyprien’s wines.

Chambolle-Musigny 2008

Lovely fruit, quite charming, nice elegance.

Morey-Saint-Denis 2008

Good Morey fruit on the nose. Good tannins. Properly charming. This is a very pleasurable villages.

Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Millands 2008

Proper complexity. Love the fruit, it compels. A beautiful palate which is really Morey.

Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru aux Chezeaux 2008

Bit reduced, but there is a lot of concentration here and the fruit/acid balance seems good.

Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru aux Combottes 2008

Refined complexity on the nose, good, beautiful fruit is there. Some white pepper, maybe? Good concentration. Top bunny. This is a great Premier Cru (it is sandwiched between two Grand Crus) and Cyprien makes a type example.

Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru les Ruchots 2008

Super Morey action here. Wow does this have a real sense of place. Fruit++. Great elegance and refinement. I really like this. Not many Morey Premier Crus are better than this.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2008

Profound nose, but again it is a bit reduced. You can smell the concentration of fruit aromas. When this emerges it will be extra good.

Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2008

Charming beauty. A really svelte and totally lovely texture, the palate just wants you to have a good time. This is even better than the Clos de la Roche. Yeah, baby!

Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru 2008

Ah ha ha ha! This is perfumed and totally attractive. More of those lovely, beautifully sculpted, but big, tits. Wow, this is complex. Soft, concentrated and super lovely. I’m smitten.

Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2008

A bit oaky (ah I am told this is from a new barrel), but you’ve got to love its commanding presence in your glass, nose and mind. The fruit is piercingly vibrant. Totally lovely, but I prefer the Clos Saint Denis.

Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc ‘Chardonnay’ 2008

Primary fruit: bananas. Good freshness. Nice enough.