Bruno Clair Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2011

Domaine Bruno Clair is located in the heart of the Côte d'Or region of Burgundy, France. Specifically, it is situated in the commune of Marsannay-la-Côte, which is part of the Côte de Nuits wine-growing area. The Côte de Nuits is renowned for producing some of the world's finest Pinot Noir wines, including Grand Cru and Premier Cru appellations. Marsannay-la-Côte is located just south of Dijon, the capital of the Burgundy region. It is one of the northernmost communes in the Côte de Nuits, bordering the Côte de Beaune to the south. The vineyards of Marsannay-la-Côte benefit from a diverse array of terroirs, including limestone, clay, and marl soils, which contribute to the wines' complexity and character.

While Domaine Bruno Clair is located in Marsannay-la-Côte, the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru wine is produced from vineyards situated in the communes of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis, which are further south in the Côte de Nuits, the Bonnes-Mares vineyard spans both of these communes, with different sections owned by various producers. Limestone-rich soils with a significant proportion of clay characterize the terroir of Bonnes-Mares. The subsoil is characterized by limestone with entroques and Ostrea acuminata marls. These unique soil conditions, coupled with the area's mesoclimate and exposure to sunlight, contribute to the distinctive character and quality of the wines produced from this vineyard. 

Bruno Clair Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is produced by Domaine Bruno Clair, which is owned and operated by Bruno Clair himself. Bruno Clair is a highly respected winemaker in Burgundy, known for his dedication to crafting wines that express the unique terroir of their vineyard sites. He comes from a long line of winemakers, and his family has deep roots in Burgundy's viticultural history. Bruno Clair's winemaking philosophy emphasizes respect for tradition, sustainable practices in the vineyard, and minimal intervention in the cellar to allow the terroir to shine through in the final wines. This approach has earned Domaine Bruno Clair a stellar reputation among wine enthusiasts and critics alike.

Bonnes-Mares is primarily planted with Pinot Noir, the noble grape variety of Burgundy renowned for its ability to express terroir. Pinot Noir thrives in the limestone and clay soils of Bonnes-Mares, producing wines with aromas of red fruits, floral notes, spices, and earthy undertones. Bonnes-Mares wine promises a very deep red robe taste coupled with a nose of intricate black fruits and spices. It is a powerful and complex wine of remarkable length. A medium to long aging potential can be expected across vintages, meaning that you can expect the wine to continue to develop beautifully over the course of a 10 year period and perhaps longer. 

"From .41-hectares of vines (planted in 1946 and 1978 that border Clos de Tart on the Morey side that were leased to Fougeray de Beauclair up until 2006,) the 2011 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has an exuberant bouquet as one would expect. Precocious dark cherry and plum aromas, almost honeyed and ravishing! The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, generous entry before unexpected tertiary notes surface on the middle and latter stages. In the end, it is a more masculine Bonnes-Mares compared to its peers, one more structured but very focused and long in the mouth. Drink 2015-2028.

I have tasted the wines of this Marsannay-based producer, born from the original Clair-Dau estate in 1979, since tasting my first Pinot Noir, and yet somehow I had never visited their cellars until now. Bruno Clair was on hand himself to guide me through the wines in his blur of French that at times can be difficult to understand, as if every word is joined together. As usual, at his side was cellar-master Philippe Brun. His is a relatively large portfolio spread over their 23 hectares of vineyard, which has expanded in recent years when leasehold contracts with Fougeray de Beauclair and Louis Jadot came to an end. While I found the white 2011s needing a little more precision and complexity, his reds are evolving into fine examples of the vintage and often exhibit a degree of finesse that I could not discern a decade ago. In particular, at the top end there is much to admire from wines that I feel belong within the top tier of producers. The domaine’s Corton-Charlemagne vines lie on the limit of Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton. Though they lie on the side of the latter, their orientation means that the wines tend to evolve more like those located on the Pernand side." Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (8/28/2013, Issue 208), Rating: 92, Drink: 2015-2028