Bruno Clair Vosne-Romanée Les Champs Perdrix 2010

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 complexity and character of the wines produced there.

Bruno Clair, hailing from a distinguished lineage of winemakers in Burgundy, carries forward the rich tradition of Domaine Clair-Daü, established by his grandfather Joseph Clair and his grandmother Marguerite Daü in the early 19th century. In 1979, he founded Domaine Bruno Clair, a testament to his family's enduring legacy. Balancing modern practices with deep-rooted tradition, Bruno has expanded the estate's production to 27 hectares across eight villages and 32 appellations. He proudly represents the sixth generation of winegrowers. 

Renowned for their environmentally respectful viticulture practices, manual harvesting, and meticulous winemaking, they produce wines that capture the essence of Burgundy’s terroir. Bruno Clair has a specific cultivation method. They pay attention to the grapes and a careful selection of the plants has been part of the estate’s tradition for several generations. Bernard, Clair Bruno's father, was passionate about selecting the right variety. The red wines are fermented in open wooden vats for a fortnight with a low dose of SO2. The wine is then matured in oak barrels for 18-20 months before being bottled. The white wines are vinified in stainless steel vats without using SO2, then they finish fermenting and are matured in oak barrels or foudres. For the Marsannay Rosé, half of the cuvée is pressed immediately, and the other half is vinified via cold maceration for a few days.

While Domaine Bruno Clair is located in Marsannay-la-Côte, Les Champs des Perdrix wine is produced from vineyards situated in the village of Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of the Côte de Nuits. This wine is made exclusively from Pinot Noir, the noble grape variety of Burgundy renowned for its ability to express terroir. This climate, located at a higher altitude near some of the most prestigious Grand Cru of the region is characterized by its clay-limestone soils. 

In tasting, Les Champs Perdrix has a ruby red color. The nose is captivating, offering a bouquet of ripe red fruits with some spicy notes. On the palate, it stands out for its perfect balance, with a refined tannic structure, well-integrated acidity that brings freshness and a long elegant finish.

"The 2010 Vosne-Romanee Les Champs Perdrix totally saturates the palate with layers of dark red fruit and spices. This is a very classic Vosne in every way. Exotic spiced notes are woven into minerals on the textured energetic finish. The Champs Perdrix is a fabulous wine in its category. These 70-year-old vines were the last to be harvested at the domaine. This is a fabulous set of wines from Bruno Clair and his long-time oenologist Philippe Brun. The harvest started on September 25. Yields were 22-30 hectoliters per hectare, which is to say a good 10% less than 2003, a torrid vintage marked by tiny yields. Clair describes the fruit as healthy, with no botrytis and soft tannins from the late harvest. The 2010s were 100% destemmed. New oak ranged from 25% for the villages to 50% for the Grand Crus, except for the Marsannays, which saw very little new oak. " - Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (12/22/2011, Issue 199), Rating: 91-93, Drink: 2015-2025