Bonnes-Mares, Domaine Arlaud, 1976

① Introduction

 

 

Domaine Arlaud, located in Morey-Saint-Denis in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, was founded in the mid-20th century and is known for producing precise, pure, and layered expressions of Pinot Noir. Since the late 1990s, the estate has practiced organic and biodynamic viticulture, focusing on low yields, gentle extraction, and minimal intervention to achieve wines of elegance, tension, and natural transparency.

 

 

Bonnes-Mares is one of the domaine’s most iconic Grand Crus. Arlaud’s parcels lie mainly on the mid-slope toward the Chambolle-Musigny side, giving the wines more floral lift, finesse, and mineral definition, rather than pure power alone.

 

 

The 1976 vintage was extremely hot and dry, yet Arlaud’s delicate winemaking has allowed this bottle to retain notable vitality, depth, and complexity even after decades of aging.

 

 

 

② Terroir Characteristics: Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru

 

 

Bonnes-Mares spans the villages of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis, covering about 15 hectares. It is famed for combining the elegance of Chambolle with the structure and depth of Morey.

 

 

Soil & profile distinctions:

 

 

• Chambolle side (Les Terres Blanches): White clay and fractured limestone bring floral aromatics, lift, and minerality.

• Morey side (Terres Rouges): Iron-rich clay delivers darker fruit, firm tannins, and depth.

• Mid-slope parcels (Arlaud’s holdings): A balance of the two, producing wines with both finesse and structural backbone.

 

 

Overall, the vineyard imparts dark fruit, spice, earthy tones, and strong aging potential.

 

 

 

③ Style of the 1976 Vintage

 

 

1976 was a famously hot vintage in Burgundy, with early harvests and exceptionally ripe grapes. Wines often show concentration, warmer fruit profiles, and lower acidity.

 

 

Aromatics:

Black cherry, dried blackberry, plum, leather, tobacco, dried roses, forest floor, licorice, and touches of caramelized spice. With age, truffle and earthy tones become prominent.

 

 

Palate:

Medium to full-bodied; tannins have softened over time but still provide structure; acidity sits on the lower side of medium, giving the wine a rounded, mature texture; dense, warm, and expressive of the vintage’s richness.

 

 

Maturity:

After nearly five decades, the wine emphasizes savory depth, spice, earth, and tertiary complexity. Its combination of Bonnes-Mares’ inherent structure and the vintage’s power makes it appealing to lovers of mature Burgundy.