TN: 2015 Domaine Arlaud (Vin Vino Wine)

WINE TALK
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2015 DOMAINE ARLAUD (VIN VINO WINE) - Vin Vino Wine, Palo Alto, CA (10/13/2017)

The super-hyped 2015 Red Burgundy vintage is upon us, and wines are starting to arrive in force. Domaine (Cyprien) Aurlaud has become one of my favorites and I was especially eager to sample this lineup.

  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Gevrey-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
    Violets and dark spices on the nose. Big, round fruit on the palate, with black cherry and tannin. Very open now. (90 pts.)
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Chambolle-Musigny - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny
    Aromas of Asian spice and pomegranate. On the palate, a lacy and silky texture with raspberry notes. Low in tannin. (89 pts.)
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Aux Cheseaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
    Big nose of complex, mustard-driven spices. Then in the mouth, deep, dark black raspberry fruit with incredible balance. A superb performer, and outclasses the Ruchots in this vintage. (93 pts.)
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
    On the nose, dark, plummy, and spicy. Then an attack of lively candy apple with a touch of prune, and lots of dry extract. But this seemed to have a bit of reduction and/or cork taint that made it difficult to judge in the end, so I hesitate to rate it. Which is unfortunate since this bottling has been a favorite of mine in previous years. Taste before you buy!
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
    Begins with an intriguing bouquet of chocolate mustard and dried apricot. The palate continues with milk chocolate and a melange of other spices, culminating in a long finish. Overperforms. (92 pts.)
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
    This Arlaud continues the mustard theme on the nose, intermixed with notes of dark chocolate. Then you’ll taste semi-bitter dark chocolate and black raspberry, with a medium finish. The fine tannin gives this wine a spectacularly full and silky texture. (93 pts.)
  • 2015 Domaine Arlaud Charmes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
    Starts with an absolutely glorious bouquet of potpourri. Take a sip and welcome a piercing army of regal fruit with no letup until the medium-long finish lets you go. Touch of cocoa. (94 pts.)

I was extremely happy with the wines, with the odd exception of the Ruchots, which is usually my favorite but this time had issues. As promised this looks to be a spectacular vintage, the best of 2005 and 2009 in one…?
Posted from CellarTracker

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I was hoping someone would write about Arlaud’s 2015s soon. Thanks! Have you - or anyone else - had the Roncevie? My expectations for it are relatively high.

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I’ve been pondering many of these but can’t seem to be able to land on any particular one. Thanks for the notes.

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Thanks for these notes, a producer that I have been building on my holdings since 2012 vintage. I usually just go for Aux Combottes, CdlR and CSD. The CSD is notoriously hard to find.

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I tasted some of the same wines (just the Ruchots, Vosne, and Combottes). Also a fan of Arlaud (Ruchots often my favorite in most vintages, at least of the affordable wines). I think Nick and I have slightly different preferences, he’s a fan of bigger, richer wines, while I tend toward more reserve, at least in Burgundy. I liked the wines, but honestly they came across as something a really good California producer could make in a perfect year. That’s not a bad thing, just a way of looking at the vintage. I think in the best Burgundy vintages, California cannot make those wines.

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I know from Nick’s notes and stated preferences that he enjoys ripe vintage Burgundy more than I do, and I expect that he has described these wines very well. When I read big, round fruit, prune, chocolate and cocoa, I am fairly certain that I would share Alan’s impressions.

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It’s hard to mistake these for California Pinot, and that’s why I consider ripe Burgundy vintages such gems. They have power and complexity yet lack the clumsy heft you very often find in RRV and similar locations. (Although I do love SLH because that heft seems to work with its much darker flavor profile instead of against it.)

(BTW VVW is likely closing next year. Damn!)