2017 Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne Romanee

Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux is the updated name for what was previously called Domaine Robert Arnoux. Founded in 1858 by the Arnoux family in the Côte de Nuits, the estate has vines that are on average fifty years old, with some dating to 1921. The new name reflects the fact that the domaine has for several decades been run by Pascal Lachaux and his wife Florence Arnoux, Robert’s daughter. Robert took over from his father in the 1950s, and died in the mid-1990s. Under Pascal and Florence the estate has grown to 45 acres, including a parcel in Latricieres-Chambertin. Today their son Charles is also part of the enterprise. The domaine includes Grand Cru vineyards in Vosne-Romanee, Clos de Vougeot and Romanee-St.-Vivant. It also has Premier Cru and villages parcels in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Chambolle-Musigny. Clive Coates has written that the wines made under Pascal Lachaux "have been excellent."

Vosne-Romanée is the most prestigious appellation in Burgundy. Its 449 acres of vineyards are in and around the village of Vosne-Romanée and they include renowned Grand Cru vineyards which produce some of the world’s most coveted – and costly —wines. The Grands Crus are Richebourg, La Romanée, Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and La Tâche. The Grand Crus Échezeaux and Grands- Échezeaux are actually located in the neighboring village of Flagey-Échezeaux, but legally they can be sold under the Vosne-Romanée appellation. There are also seventeen Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanée. Wine writer Clive Coates has called Vosne-Romanée “the greatest Pinot Noir village on earth” and notes that the appellation’s style “is for wines which are rich, austere, sensual, masculine and aristocratic.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.