2009 Domaine de L'Arlot Romanee-St.-Vivant

Domaine de L'Arlot, located in Premeaux-Prissey, just south of Nuits-St.-Georges, Burgundy, was started in 1987 by AXA, the French insurance company. The original property consisted of three monopoles: Clos de l’Arlot; Clos du Chapeau in Comblanchien; and Clos des Forets St. Georges. In the early 1990s the domaine added parcels in Romanee-St- Vivant and Vosne-Romanee Les Suchots. The domaine today includes 34 acres and Olivier Leriche is winemaker. Wines produced include Grand Cru Romanee-St.-Vivant, and Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee.

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.