Vosne Romanée 1er cru Les Petits Monts 2023 Cyprien Arlaud

The Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts 2023 from Cyprien Arlaud is one of the most confidential and precious bottles in the négociant range, an absolute rarity from a parcel of just 10 ares, with vines planted in 1930 that overlook directly the Richebourg, one of Burgundy's greatest wines. Sourced from a magnificent hillside Premier Cru situated above the Richebourg, in immediate proximity to the mythic Raignots, this Petits Monts delivers profound, dynamic fruit with energy in abundance, as befits its fine limestone terroir.

The terroir of Petits Monts

The lieu-dit Les Petits Monts is situated just above Richebourg. The parcel "Les Petits Monts" sits at the top of the hillside, which explains its name. This position is crucial: high on the slope, just above the Richebourg Grand Cru, Petits Monts benefits from pure limestone soils with very little clay, whose extreme leanness forces the roots of old vines to plunge deep into the rock to find sustenance. It is this soil poverty that is at the origin of the extraordinary concentration, minerality and tension of this terroir. The Pinot Noir comes from old vines farmed organically, planted in 1930, on argillaceous-limestone soils, a tiny undulating parcel of 0.10 hectares. Soil worked by horse, manual harvesting and controlled yields. Vinification 100 percent destemmed, gentle pressing, 16 months ageing in oak barrels with a quarter new oak. Bottled without fining or filtration and respecting lunar cycles. Ageing is conducted in French oak barrels for 14 to 18 months. The wine undergoes racking in air during ageing. Only old barrels are used for this cuvée.

Tasting profile

Situated just above Richebourg, the Premier Cru Les Petits Monts is among the most prized in Vosne-Romanée's territory. Its ripe and opulent nose opens with notes of black cherries, blueberries and a touch of crushed violet, both concentrated and very pure. The palate is succulent and fleshy on the attack, marked by blood orange infusing dark berries, some touches of pencil lead and crunchy red fruits. The decision to use only old barrels with no new wood whatsoever for this cuvée is a statement of strong and rare philosophy: to let the terroir of Petits Monts express itself in absolute purity, without oak interfering with the faithful transmission of a terroir among Vosne-Romanée's most noble. The finish is long, mineral and persistent, with a purity and depth that directly recall the immediate neighbour, Richebourg.

The domaine

Cyprien Arlaud represents the third generation of Domaine Arlaud, founded in 1942 at the meeting of the Burgundian woman Renée Amiot and the Ardéchois Joseph Arlaud. In 2013, Cyprien succeeded his father Hervé and has led the domaine in biodynamics since 2009, becoming the first certified Biodyvin domaine in Morey-Saint-Denis in 2014. His passion for Burgundy's terroirs in all their diversity led him to develop from 2012 a négociant activity under the Cyprien Arlaud label, for which his team cultivates the vines themselves from pruning to harvest, with the same biodynamic rigour as for the family domaine.

Food pairings

This Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts will pair sublimely with roasted pigeon and its leek garnish, tender white meats accompanied by spring vegetables and a well-reduced jus, a rack of lamb with Provençal herbs, partridge with cabbage or beef fillet with black truffle jus. It will also find fine harmony with aged soft cheeses such as Époisses or Soumaintrain. Decanting for one hour is advised in its youth. Served between 15 and 17 °C, it will progressively reveal all the purity, concentration and nobility of a Premier Cru from Vosne-Romanée above which rises only Richebourg.