This is the second of the two great monopole vineyards at the core of this Domaine and it is also one of the great terroirs of Nuits, made clear by its position so close to Les Saint-Georges (and its name which reflects this proximity). At 7.2 hectares, Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges is by far the largest single parcel in the l’Arlot stable, and produces the Estate’s most profound red wine. Running the entire width of the Côte, from the forest to the RN74, Forêts contains three distinct terroirs which l’Arlot pick and vinify separately. From top to bottom these are: a band of white oolitic limestone with very little top soil; a fracture in the middle of the vineyard, where pink Prémeaux limestone takes over; then ‘younger’ Ladoix limestone and more clay at the bottom of the slope. A portion of the youngest vines were previously harvested for the now defunct ‘Petits Plets’ cuvée—at over 30 years old, these have now come of age and so form a part of this cuvée.
This is the deepest, most intense red in the l’Arlot stable and one that perfectly highlights the dark fruited, meaty, earthy, inky power of this terroir. As with the Clos de l’Arlot, Forêts took 50% new oak in the maturation, yet the fruit for this cuvée was completely de-stemmed. As the notes below make clear, the 2017 is an outstanding example of this wine, dripping with black cherry, cassis and crushed brown spice aromas and flavours. The palate is really finely textured with superb depth, and much more finesse than we typically expect of this terroir when so young. Godot explained that the extraction came so easily this year that she was really gentle and the results are truly superb. Again, and as always, Benchmark Premier Cru Nuits.Â
‘Rich dense purple, much darker than the Clos de l’Arlot. The nose seems oakier too, though both wines have 40% new wood. I don’t pick up stems on the nose but they help freshen up the mid palate and indeed the finale. Géraldine now tells me that there were no stems included! This is a little closer to people’s general idea of Nuits, albeit with the elegance of Premeaux and the style of the domaine. Lovely bright aftertaste with good acidity. The low yield explains the concentration. Tasted: November 2018. 91-94 points’ – Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
