Domaine de L'Arlot

At the end of the 18th Century Jean Charles Vienot, belonging to a very well-known upper middle-class family of Burgundy and owner of the house and vineyard, built a wall around to create the "Clos de l'Arlot". Taking his inspiration from Italian baroque gardens, his son François then had a very strange and surprising park built in the centre of Clos de l'Arlot, on what used to be a marble quarry.

In 1891 the Clos de l'Arlot was sold to Jules Belin – wine négociant and son of a notary from Burgundy - who added to it the "Clos des Forêts Saint Georges" and the "Clos du Chapeau". Numerous artists came to Premeaux, invited by Jules Belin, to make from the stones strange sculpture of animal faces. The estate known as "Maison Jules Belin" was then run by members of Jules Belin's family until 1987 when they decided to sell it.

In 1987, AXA Millésimes bought the vines (33 acres) and the buildings of Domaine de l’Arlot. The property was run by Jean-Pierre De Smet and Lise Judet until 2006. As from January 2007, Christian Seely has taken over as Managing Director and Olivier Leriche as Technical Director.

The vineyards (covering 14 hectares, approximately 35 acres today) are mainly situated around Nuits Saint Georges but also in Vosne Romanée. There are many old vines (some 50 years old or more) with an average age of 30.

Since its creation in 1987, the Domaine de l'Arlot has moved away from what might be called the "classic" method of vineyard management to a biological one: ploughing rather than herbicide, no insecticide...Today the vineyard management is mainly biological with an organic approach.
The yields are kept very low on purpose via severe pruning and via the use of natural compost exclusively and in low quantities. The average crop since 1987 is 35 hl/ha.