Region: Burgundy Grapes: Pinot Noir First Glance: Structured, Ripe, Age-worthy
The Wine: A supremely talented vigneron, Arnaud Mortet is routinely praised for his work in the vineyards, even by his peers. Machines are no longer used in any sites; everything is done by hand here, and horses are now employed to plough all 1er and Grand Cru vineyards in order to minimize soil compaction. After the tragic death in 2006 of his legendary father, Denis, Arnaud took full control of the domaine, ably carrying on Denis' dream of making refined, elegant wines.
Arnaud's wines are reaching new levels, as the winemaker looks back to more traditional viniculture techniques. He keeps the yield very low, uses gentler macerations and a smaller percentage of new oak, and has increased the severity of fruit selection. A perfectionist by nature, and driven by a desire to honor his father's legacy, Arnaud is making superbly finessed and precise wines, as he continues to evolve this domaine.
