Villars-Fontaine, Burgundy, Monday 10th February 2025 – In the face of changing climate conditions, the one-man band behind Maison Arnaud Boué has made a significant acquisition of 7.56 ha in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, securing one of the appellation’s most-coveted terroirs. These previously overlooked parcels of land hold great potential under Arnaud’s watchful care.
In Burgundy, a growing number of young producers are looking to the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits as a Burgundy appellation that offers cooler temperatures and cheaper land relative to its illustrious neighbours.
A dynamic force in Burgundy, Maison Arnaud Boué’s recent acquisition illustrates its namesake owner’s forward-thinking approach. The vast majority of the new plots (6.57 ha in total) lies within Les Dames Huguettes, a cru of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits that is considered one of the appellation’s best terroirs due to its
location and soil composition. Located atop a plateau, the higher altitude provides the ideal conditions for Arnaud’s production. Planted with Pinot Noir, its position overlooking Nuits-Saint-George benefits from good exposure, a unique climate, and hard limestone and marl soils.
The rest of the maison’s acquisition includes a further 0.34 ha of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and 0.52 ha of Coteaux Bourguignon, both of which are planted with Pinot Noir. Here again, the sites were selected for their elevation, as according to Arnaud “higher-altitude plots yield fruit with higher acidity, greater freshness, and lower alcohol potential. Additionally, the poorer limestone soils higher up the hillside impart a unique depth and elegance.”
Since 2018, Arnaud has sought out Hautes-Côtes de Nuits plots to accompany his Grand Cru and Premier Cru cuvées. He is a vocal advocate for the potential of its higher-altitude plots as temperatures and climates continue to shift.
Having grown up in Burgundy, Arnaud completed a degree in oenology at Montpellier SupAgro before building an impressive résumé across some of the world’s leading wineries. After a placement at Château Gazin and stints with producers across New Zealand, he returned home to hone his craft at several iconic Burgundian domains, including Domaine David Duband and Domaine des Lambrays.
A decade of diverse experiences in both the northern and southern hemispheres sculpted Arnaud’s shrewdness when selecting vineyard plots, and informed his adaptability when vinifying their precious crops. It is this arsenal of knowledge that he brought with him when taking the reins of his small maison in the Hautes-Côt de Nuits – a region that he focuses on “by chance and by choice”.
His production includes the grapes from a selected handful of growers on terroir judged to Arnaud’s own high standards. He is driven by the belief that a winemaker can only make an outstanding wine with exceptional terroir. Through frequent visits, Arnaud works closely with his growers to ensure all methods and philosophies are aligned.
Upon arrival, careful consideration is applied to each cuvée. The highest quality bunches are selected to remain largely intact when sent to the tanks and the rest are de-stemmed. Here, they undergo a cold maceration for around three weeks, during which Arnaud gently punches down by foot. Both his whites and reds undergo a slow, natural fermentation with indigenous yeast and, once transferred to old oak barrels, see a natural
malolactic fermentation.
After a period of ageing, the wines are lightly filtered and bottled according to the lunar calendar. The Maison’s production will be divided between Hautes-Côtes de Nuits cuvées, with some grapes chosen to produce entry-level cuvées, alongside villages, 1er cru, and grands crus – starting from the 2023 vintage.
