History of the Domaine

Didier Fornerol was vineyard manager and cellar master at Domaine de L’Arlot from 1982 until 1998 working with Jean-Pierre de Smet’s during most of those years. Didier learned his winemaking skills by his father’s side and took over the family’s domaine in 1999.

Today, Didier works 6 hectares in the village of Corgoloin (3 h 70 of Côtes de Nuits-Villages red and 60 ares of Côtes de Nuits-Villages white) and small amounts of Passetoutgrain, Aligoté, and Bourgogne. Jean-Pierre de Smet, now retired from Domaine de l’Arlot, works closely with Didier in the cellar during harvest and for vinification. The vineyard is managed using minimal amounts of synthetic treatment products (lutte raisonnée) and the young vines are strictly pruned to limit their yields.

Didier is an avid believer and gifted artisan in the production of whole cluster wines. On a separate and special note, Daniel finds some of the old de Smet magic in these soulful wines.

Daniel's first vintage with Fornerol was 1990. Jean-Pierre de Smet's first vintage helping was 2006.

• Côte de Nuits Village Rouge “La Rue des Foins”

  • 0.50 ha in two parcels between Corgoloin and Comblanchien
  • The parcels were singled out by Didier Fornerol and Jean-Pierre de Smet as consistently producing higher quality fruit and so are vinified and bottled separately
  • Average vine age - 40 years
  • Manual harvest. Grapes are not de-stemmed. Manual pushing down, occasional pumping over. Vatting for 15-20 days. Slightly high fermentation temperature. Aged for 14-16 months entirely in barrel (10% new wood). 2 rackings maximum. If necessary, fined with egg whites.