2014 Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee St. Vivant

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."

Romanee-Saint-Vivant is a 23-acre Grand Cru vineyard just on the northern edge of the commune of Vosne-Romanee in the Cote de Nuits. The vineyard faces east, has a gentle incline and an elevation of 250 to 265 meters. The soil is clay and limestone. Principal producers of Romanee-Saint-Vivant are Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, with 13.23 acres; Leroy, with 2.48 acres; and Domaine de Corton-Grancey/Louis Latour, with 1.9 acres.

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.