Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Vosne-Romanée
2010
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Where it is, November 2026
At Peak: inside the peak window (2015-2037), within the full drinking arc.
In 2026 this 2010 Romanee-Saint-Vivant sits firmly mid-peak. The window opened in 2013, and its long plateau runs from 2015 to 2037, so today the wine is drinking beautifully with well over a decade still in front of it before any hard decline near 2046. The cool, high-acid 2010 vintage gave it the spine to age slowly, and at sixteen years the primary fruit has begun melting into the savory, floral complexity that defines mature Vosne grand cru. There is no rush to pour, yet no reason to wait: it shows secondary depth now while keeping the freshness that will carry it for years.
More wines like this
The ‘10 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru.
A perfumed, high-acid 2010 Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru from Arnoux-Lachaux, mid-peak in 2026 with red-currant lift, fine tannins, and years of life ahead.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
The palate is rich, refined, and admirably pure, mid-weight in build at a body of 7 that never tips into heaviness. What sets it apart is the architecture: ultra-fine tannins, rated 7, frame the fruit without grip or coarseness, dissolving into the wine rather than standing apart from it. The defining feature is acidity, a vivid 9, which threads the whole experience with energy and keeps every flavor crisp and forward. That tension between the gentle weight and the bright spine of acid is what gives the wine its sense of motion, carrying cool red fruit, spice, and a faint mineral edge into an incredibly long, persistent finish that lingers well past the swallow.
The 2010 vintage
2010 is a classic, high-acid red Burgundy vintage and the Cote de Nuits stands out. A cool summer preserved acidity, while a cool, dry September gave a long hang time during which skins ripened fully even as the acidity stayed vibrantly fresh. The result is wines that are aromatic and elegant, built on fresh, ripe fruit rather than the richer flesh of 2009, with plentiful supple tannins and a limpid purity of flavor. Succulence balanced by structure makes 2010 a benchmark for cellaring grand cru Vosne.
About Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux is a Vosne-Romanee estate now led by sixth-generation Charles Lachaux, who works the vineyards close to organically (he describes the approach as roughly 90 percent organic) and has reshaped the house style around tall, untrimmed canopies for a higher leaf-to-fruit ratio, earlier ripening, and modest alcohol. The perfumed, high-acid, finely tannic profile of this Romanee-Saint-Vivant, one of the estate's grand cru holdings, reflects that pursuit of lift and purity.
Pairing suggestions
Cellared suggestions based on the wine and dish descriptions.
Roast squab with red-currant jus
The mid-weight body of 7 matches the bird without overwhelming it, the high acidity of 9 cuts the richness of the jus and keeps each bite fresh, and the ultra-fine tannins of 7 flatter the lean, tender meat rather than fighting it.
Mushroom and thyme risotto
Earthy mushroom echoes the wine's savory, spiced side, the vivid acidity rated 9 slices through the creamy rice to stay lively, and the gentle tannins of 7 and mid-weight body of 7 keep the pairing elegant rather than heavy.
Duck breast with cherry sauce
The bright acid of 9 balances the fatty duck and the sweet-tart cherry, the fine tannins of 7 frame the meat cleanly, and the mid-weight body of 7 sits alongside the dish without flattening its delicacy.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 30 to 60 minutes before serving. At sixteen years this wine is mid-peak and no longer needs aggressive aeration, but a gentle decant lifts the floral, red-currant aromatics and lets the fine tannins and bright acidity settle into focus. Pour off any light sediment that has formed over the years in bottle.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
More from Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Vosne-Romanée
Frequently Asked
When should I drink this wine?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2013-2046. Within that arc, the peak window is 2015-2037. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
Should I decant it?
Yes, a short decant of 30 to 60 minutes helps. At sixteen years the wine is mid-peak and does not need heavy aeration, but a gentle decant opens its floral, red-currant aromatics and lets the fine tannins and high acidity come into focus. Pour carefully to leave any sediment behind in the bottle.
What should I pair with it?
Lean, savory dishes shine here. Roast squab, duck breast with cherry, or a mushroom and thyme risotto all work because the wine's high acidity cuts richness, its ultra-fine tannins flatter tender meat, and its mid-weight body sits beside the food without overwhelming the plate's delicacy.
Can I keep cellaring it, or should I open it now?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2013-2046. Within that arc, the peak window is 2015-2037. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
What should I open next in a similar style?
Stay in cool, high-acid Pinot Noir country. Explore the Burgundy cellar guide and more Pinot Noir wines, or go straight to a neighboring grand cru with the 2019 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru.