Charles Lachaux

The Story of Charles Lachaux

The story of Charles Lachaux begins at the family domaine in Vosne-Romanée, founded by the Arnoux family approximately a century and a half ago. Following the passing of Robert Arnoux in 1995, his son-in-law Pascal Lachaux took over. He gave birth to Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, then passed the reins to his son Charles. A self-declared admirer of Lalou Bize-Leroy, Charles embarked on a profound revolution, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The international press quickly applauded this transformation and recognised him as one of the most talented young winemakers in the world.

The Charles Lachaux micro-négoce was born in 2018, and it all started with one grape variety: Aligoté. During a blind tasting, Charles had noted that the finest Aligotés could rival premier cru Chardonnays. The domaine happened to own an Aligoté plot whose grapes were sold in bulk, and he decided to vinify it under his own label. Young winemaker friends, eager to see their work properly valued, then offered him their grapes. The range thus comprised five wines from the very first vintage. The label was designed by Louise, his wife and graphic designer, and the rose adorning it pays homage to their eldest daughter, Rose. From the 2023 vintage onwards, the labels specify the origin of the grapes. Today, nearly three quarters of the wines come from plots farmed directly by the team.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Charles Lachaux

The Charles Lachaux wines cover a broad mosaic of Burgundian terroirs. In the Côte de Nuits, one finds Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Gevrey-Chambertin and Comblanchien. In the Côte de Beaune, the cuvées come from Pommard, Volnay, Aloxe-Corton and the Corton hill. Many of the vines are old, planted between the 1930s and the 1970s. They often bear millerandage clusters, signs of concentration and finesse. The soils vary from plot to plot: white marls, clay-limestone, stony alluvial cones or white stony soils resting on limestone bedrock.

In the vineyard, Charles practises avant-garde viticulture, conducted according to organic farming and biodynamic principles. He was one of the first in Burgundy to experiment with no-tillage, in order to preserve soil life and biodiversity. He limits yields, prunes late and avoids hedging as much as possible. The vines thus maintain a high canopy, which protects them and encourages balanced ripening. When a plot belongs to a partner grower, Charles supervises almost all of the work, with the same rigour as at the family domaine.

Vinifications by Charles Lachaux

All harvests are carried out by the Lachaux team, then pressed in a vertical press. Fermentations start exclusively with indigenous yeasts, and sulphur is only added after malolactic fermentation, unless necessary. The red wines are vinified 100% as whole clusters. Macerations are remarkably short, sometimes only six days, with very gentle extraction: a few foot-treading punch-downs and one daily pump-over. The whites are whole-cluster pressed and fermented without additives.

The ageing lasts just under a year, compared to eighteen months for the domaine's wines. It takes place without new oak, in old barrels and, since 2023, exclusively in ceramic vessels that preserve the brilliance of the fruit. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration, with very low sulphur doses. The result: vibrant and transparent Burgundy wines, delightful from their youth, yet retaining real ageing potential.

The cuvées of Charles Lachaux

Bourgogne Aligoté Les Champs d'Argent: this is the founding cuvée of the house. It comes from a 0.6-hectare plot located at the foot of Vosne-Romanée, on very white marl soils. Some of the vines date from the 1930s, the rest from the 1990s. Whole-cluster pressed and aged twelve months in old barrels, this Aligoté surprises with its tension, salinity and depth.

Bourgogne Rouge La Croix Blanche: this Pinot Noir comes from vines dating from the 1970s, in the north of Vosne-Romanée, on stony white, well-drained soils. Crunchy and aromatic, it offers an ideal entry point into the world of Charles Lachaux.

Côte de Nuits-Villages Aux Montagnes: this lieu-dit in Comblanchien sits at the top of the slope, east-facing, on stony white soils resting on limestone. The vines, planted in 1960, are farmed under certified organic agriculture with a high canopy. The wine charms with its mineral freshness and vibrant red fruit.

Gevrey-Chambertin En Reniard: the 0.4-hectare plot, planted in the 1960s, sits on an alluvial cone with stony calcareous soils. This Gevrey-Chambertin combines the sap of the appellation with a delicate and airy structure.

Nuits-Saint-Georges La Petite Charmotte: this vineyard from the 1960s is located in the north of Nuits-Saint-Georges, below the premier cru Les Bousselots, on a gentle east-facing slope. Charles has farmed it himself according to biodynamic principles since the 2020 vintage. It yields a fine and silky Nuits-Saint-Georges, far removed from the rustic image of the appellation.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Argillas: this premier cru lies in the southern part of the appellation, and its name recalls the presence of clay in the soil. It produces a more structured and deep wine. Whole-cluster vinification and gentle extraction lend it a fine texture and beautiful length.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots: this renowned climat borders Vosne-Romanée and shares its elegance. This premier cru combines density, floral aromas and refined tannins, for a cuvée built for ageing.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots: this prestigious premier cru neighbours the village's grand crus. It embodies the quintessence of Vosne-Romanée: gentle spices, deep fruit, velvety texture and great persistence. It is one of the most sought-after cuvées of the house.

Pommard Auprès du Clos: this small 0.4-hectare clos runs alongside the southern walls of the Château de Pommard, on clay-limestone soil. The vines from the 1970s, farmed using organic methods, produce millerandage clusters. The wine displays a Pommard that is fleshy yet finely chiselled.

Pommard Les Vignots: this small plot perched on the heights of Pommard was taken over and farmed by the team from spring 2023, yielding its first vintage that same year. Its altitude brings freshness and tension, with pure fruit and remarkable energy.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots: one hectare of vines planted in the 1950s, just below the Santenots du Milieu, farmed using organic methods. This Volnay premier cru blends floral finesse, intense red fruit and a fine tannic backbone.

Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozières: from a premier cru east-facing at the foot of the Corton hill, long farmed under certified organic methods, this wine favours freshness and precision over power. Cherry, wild raspberry and rose petal linger on a mineral finish.

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Le Corton: this is the pinnacle of the range in white. This grand cru Chardonnay, produced in confidential quantities, combines richness, minerality and brilliance, in Charles Lachaux's pure and unadorned style. It is highly sought after by collectors of great Burgundy wines.