Domaine de l'Arlot

Jean-Charles Vienot established the foundation of the estate in the late 18th century after inheriting a house and vines in Premeaux-Prissey. In 1891, the property was sold to the wine merchant Jules Belin, who expanded the holdings by purchasing the Clos des Forêts Saint Georges. The Belin family maintained ownership for nearly a century until 1987, when the French insurance group AXA Millésimes acquired the domaine. This purchase marked the group's first vineyard acquisition in Burgundy. Jean-Pierre de Smet was appointed to manage the estate and led its operations for two decades. Following his retirement, technical management was handled by Olivier Leriche and later Jacques Devauges before Géraldine Godot became the winemaker and technical director in 2014.

The estate manages approximately 15 hectares of vineyards, primarily located south of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Its holdings are centered on two premier cru monopoles, Clos de l'Arlot and Clos des Forêts Saint Georges, which feature soils composed of Premeaux limestone and white oolite. The domaine adopted organic viticulture in 2000 and received biodynamic certification from Biodyvin in 2003. Winemaking under Géraldine Godot emphasizes the preservation of terroir through the use of whole-cluster fermentation, a technique originally inspired by the practices of Domaine Dujac. The percentage of stems included in the fermenting vats varies by vintage and specific plot. This approach is paired with gentle extraction and a restrained use of new oak to ensure the transparency of the wine.

Signature wines of the domaine include both the red and white bottlings from the Clos de l'Arlot and the red Clos des Forêts Saint Georges. Although the region is primarily known for red wine, the Clos de l'Arlot Blanc is recognized as one of the most important white wines produced in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. The portfolio also features Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru and Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Suchots. The producer has a reputation for crafting wines that prioritize elegance, perfume, and silkiness over the firm tannins frequently found in Nuits-Saint-Georges. This specific profile has established the estate as a primary reference for the wines of the Premeaux-Prissey sector.