Noble expression of a legendary site, the Domaine de l’Arlot Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Rouge 2021 celebrates the purity and uplift of a biodynamically cultivated Pinot Noir shaped by a very precise vintage. Under Géraldine Godot’s direction, this rare cuvée marries aromatic grace with textural intensity, developing an elegance that unfolds throughout the tasting. The nose, vibrant with cherry, blackberry and raspberry, is accented by violet before sliding into notes of undergrowth, supple leather and cigar box. On the palate, balance reveals itself through pronounced minerality, refreshing acidity and endlessly silky tannins. Aged 15 months in oak barrels, with a measured share of new oak, then refined 3 months in tank, this Grand Cru displays a majestic length and a cellaring potential that commands respect. It begins to show charm from 2026, brightens through 2046 and beyond. Acclaimed by critics with 97/100 from RVF and 96/100 from Bettane+Desseauve, it is destined for those who prize the right gesture, attentive collectors and gourmets seeking lasting emotion.

Assemblage et vinification

Produced from Pinot Noir 100% grown in biodynamics, this Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru is a faithful tribute to its site. Hand-harvested fruit preserves berry integrity, ensuring careful parcel selection and pristine raw material. Fermentation with native yeasts reveals the vintage and terroir identity without artifice, while a proportion of whole clusters brings energy, linearity and a subtle floral framework. The 15-month oak ageing, with 30 to 50% new oak depending on the balance sought, supports texture without overpowering it. The selected fine-grained oak helps round the tannins and refine the wine’s depth. An additional 3 months’ ageing in tank completes the balance, and bottling is carried out with respect for aromatic precision and mineral tension. This meticulous orchestration signs a style where density never yields weight, and where power remains wholly contained within elegance.

Tasting notes

• Colour: Deep ruby with carmine highlights, clear and luminous. The rim, remarkably pure, hints at controlled concentration and a finely chiselled structure.
• Nose: An opening ballet of black cherry, blackberry and raspberry, intertwined with violet. With aeration, nuances of undergrowth, patinated leather and cigar box emerge, followed by a touch of fine spice that extends the complexity.
• Palate: Precise attack, velvety flesh and an ample mid-palate. The tannic frame, silky, is carried by a refreshing acidity and a vibrant minerality. The finish is long and nuanced, oscillating between bright red fruit and noble tertiary notes.

Service temperature and advice

Serve this Grand Cru at 17°C in large Burgundy glasses to honour the aromatic architecture of Pinot Noir. An extended decanting is beneficial to release the floral dimension and the sap of the fruit while harmonising the tannins. Store bottles lying down in a cool, dark and stable cellar to promote steady ageing. The wine will express itself gracefully from 2026, gain depth until its peak between 2031 and 2046, and then continue a noble evolution beyond 2051 for lovers of tertiary maturity. This generous timeframe leaves ample opportunity to follow its development, vintage after vintage, table after table.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: gougères, jambon persillé, artisan peppered charcuterie.
• Starters: œufs en meurette, veal tartare with truffles, mushroom puff pastry tart.
• Main courses: roasted pigeon with reduced jus, duck with gentle spices, Bresse poultry with truffle, porcini risotto.
• Cheeses: 24-month Comté, Brillat-Savarin, Cîteaux, creamy soft-ripened cheeses.
• Desserts: lightly sweetened red fruit tart, cocoa biscuit with Morello cherries, delicate dark chocolate pairings.

Moments to enjoy

This Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru invites moments when time gently stretches, like a precious breath between movements of an orchestra. It is a table companion that elevates culinary art, a gift that marks the milestones of a fine story, and a cuvée to be listened to as much as tasted.

• To celebrate a milestone event surrounded by knowledgeable friends.
• At the heart of a gastronomic dinner where precision and emotion combine.
• As a collector’s gift for a lover of great Burgundies.

Characteristics

• Name : Domaine de l’Arlot Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Rouge 2021
• Appellation : Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Bourgogne
• Type : Red wine
• Vintage : 2021
• Grape variety : Pinot Noir (100%)
• Alcohol : 13,5%
• Ageing : 15 months in oak barrels, 30 to 50% new, then 3 months in tank
• Volume : 75 cl
• Aging potential : from 2026, peak 2031 to 2046, potential to 2051+
• Serving temperature : 17°C after extended decanting