Collection: Michel Acrelain

Michel and Marie Madeleine Arcelain have been working their domain in Pommard together since they were married in 1963. He's tucked into his 80s, though you would swear he's 60-something. With 61 harvests under his belt, the man is larger than life.

Through all 61 years in wine making, everything done by hand even every single bottle is hand corked and hand labeled, although not always perfectly straight, but then that's the charm. And every carton is stored meticulously with hand-written vintage cards attached. Vinification is traditional, with the harvest totally destemmed. Cold maceration for 48 hours; minimum levels of sulphur; vinification in open wooden vats during six days. Temperature control and cooling capacities are available if necessary. The wine is pulled off into stainless steel tanks at a density of 995. Aging takes place in 10% new oak in the rotation.

Michel and Mado have two children, but neither ever showed interest in taking over the domain. When everyone all worried about what would become of their impeccable vineyards. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, came their grandson Pierre Andre. He's still in school, but it's the school winemakers’ kids go to. And he goes with his grandparents to the fields and is learning, as Michel says he must, slowly. But you can see in all of their eyes the joy.

Michael Arcelain is one of the few Burgundian producers who still retains a portion of each harvest to allow it to age properly in his cellars. For this reason, he is able to present wines with up to 10 years bottle age, the ideal age for Burgundian Pinot Noir.