Benoit Moreau & L’Arlésienne

Domaine Profile

  • Location: Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
  • Size: 4.2 ha (10.37 ac) in the Côte de Beaune and 1.7 ha (4.2 ac) in the Beaujolais
  • Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay
  • Viticulture: Biodynamic (certification underway), caterpillar tractor to avoid compaction, all vineyard work except plowing is manual (including spraying), experiments with tressage and/or trimming by hand
  • Vinification (whites): Grapes may be directly pressed or crushed (depending on ripeness), indigenous yeasts, fermentation and aging in barrel (228, 300 and 500L) for 15 to 16 months.
  • Vinification (reds): Whole cluster inclusion depends on the vintage, indigenous yeasts, infusion (no piegeage), Gamay vinified and aged with no added SO2, Pinot aged in barrel, Gamay in amphora or 500L barrel.

Background

Since 1990, Benoit Moreau worked with his father and brother at the family domaine in Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Bernard Moreau & Fils. After several years as the vineyard manager, he decided to create his own domaine, combining his share of the family vineyards with some new acquisitions in the Beaujolais.

2020 vintage

While Benoit worked on building his own winery and waiting for the family vineyards to officially come under his ownership, his first vintage is 100% purchased grapes. Thanks to a handful of supportive, like-minded friends his first vintage is a limited, phenomenal lineup of whites, all from organic and/or biodynamically farmed vineyards in around Chassagne. Total production: 9,000 bottles.

2021 vintage

In November 2020, Benoit officially took over his share of the family vines, a total of 4.2 hectares. Convinced by the Beaujolais terroirs and their potential, he acquired an additional 1.7 hectares of Beaujolais Villages, Chiroubles and Morgon around the same time.