Domaine Robert Arnoux

Domaine Robert Arnoux is a 12 hectare property run by Pascal Lachaux who took over from his father-in-law, Robert Arnoux, in 1995. Although always good, the quality of this domaine's wines has soared during the last 8 years under Pascal's tenure. He has initiated a policy of no fining or filtering, and an organic and biodynamic approach (he racks when the moon's descending, weeds when it's rising).

Any damaged or unripe fruit is dropped from the vines before harvesting. The grapes are destemmed then fermented with pumping over and splashing (délestage) rather than punching down, so as not to damage the pips. The village wines receive 35% new wood, 50-60% for 1ers crus and 100% for the top cuvées. Pascal has also been experimenting with some new demi-muids where there is less oak in relation to wine than for a barrel but the staves are thicker, (4.5cm instead of 2,7m) so the oxygen exchange is slow.

These are concentrated, polished and highly sought-after wines. Pascal's success can be measured by the number of 4WD Audis parked outside the house.


Romanée St Vivant Grand Cru                                        0.35 ha
Echézeaux Grand Cru                                                       0.45 ha
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru                                             0.90 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots                         0.43 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru aux Reignots                        0.22 ha
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Chaumes                              0.74 ha
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Procès                           0.62 ha
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Corvées Pagets
Chambolle Musigny
Vosne Romanée Haut Maizières
Vosne Romanée
Nuits St Georges Poisets
Nuits St Georges
 
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots
This is normally tasted in the cellar after Clos Vougeot and Echezeaux, before Romanée St Vivant, a sign of its standing in Pascal Lachaux’s eyes. The wine is pure, intense and stylish, a fine combination of the vigneron’s style and the hyper-elegance of the vineyard.
 
Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
The small Arnoux holding is at the southern end of the cru, next to Cathiard. Robert Arnoux was able to purchase it in 1984 though the domaine had been sharecroppers of this plot since 1928. It is a wine of exceptional succulence, the quintessence of Vosne-Romanée, with the ability to build in additional layers of flavour with bottle age.