Among the most accomplished expressions of the Côte de Nuits, the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2022 from Domaine Bruno Clair signs a score of balance and serene power. Made exclusively from Pinot Noir in the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru AOC, this wine glorifies a clay-limestone terroir underlain with entroques and marls containing Ostrea acuminata. The south-east exposure and an altitude of around 280 metres provide luminous ripeness without ever sacrificing freshness. The 2022 vintage, both rich and concentrated, achieved an intense fruit flesh, supported by a finely chiselled structure. On opening, the very deep colour announces a bouquet of black and red berries, subtle spices, then recollections of fresh earth that recall the nobility of the cru. The palate, upright and enveloping, unfolds a noble texture, precise tannin grain and a persistent finish that lingers like a silk echo. For the lover of fine wines, this cuvée answers a dual desire: the certainty of immediate pleasure and the promise of majestic evolution in the cellar.

Blend and winemaking

This Grand Cru is produced from carefully selected Pinot Noir. Vinification respects the integrity of the fruit with a proportion of 30 to 50% whole clusters and a 10 to 15 day maceration in wooden vats, ensuring delicate infusions and measured extraction. The 18 to 20 months élevage in oak barrels, with about 45% new oak, weaves an aromatic architecture of great precision, where noble spices and couture oak serve the wine's depth without overpowering it. The yield for the 2022 vintage, 35 hl/ha, concentrates the heart of the terroir and delivers a brilliant, chiselled and long-lined material.

Tasting notes

• Colour : very deep red, almost crimson in intensity, clear and luminous, promising serene density and cellar potential.
• Nose : wide range of black and red fruits where blackcurrant, blackberry and Morello cherry meet discreet spices, a breath of fresh earth and a fine marked oak signature.
• Palate : ample attack, velvety texture, noble and precise tannin. The framework is vertical, the depth notable, the finish very persistent, refined and vibrant.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve this Bonnes-Mares in large glasses to allow its aromas and texture to flourish. Measured decanting will help refine the spice contours and highlight the fruit. Store bottles quietly, away from light, in a cool, stable cellar, with the cork at rest. This cuvée has a cellaring potential of at least 10 years, expected to evolve towards more complex nuances without losing its uprightness or structure.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : delicate charcuterie and mushroom puff pastry bites, for a tasteful and refined start.
• Starters : seared foie gras, jellied poularde, game terrine, where noble fat is balanced by the drive of the fruit.
• Main courses : roasted duck, pigeon, aged beef, porcini risotto or black truffle, which magnify the tannic relief and spicy depth.
• Cheeses : matured Comté, truffled Brillat-Savarin, Epoisses at controlled maturity, for a dialogue of textures and aromas.
• Desserts : a rare but possible match with a lightly sweet black fruit entremet, favouring harmony and lightness.

Moments to enjoy

The Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2022 from Domaine Bruno Clair asserts itself when the table becomes a theatre of emotions. It accompanies intimate celebrations as well as gastronomic appointments, and lends itself willingly to studied tastings where one seeks the exact measure of a great terroir.

• To honour a fine dining experience and elevate a characterful dish.
• During a vertical tasting or a sharing among knowledgeable enthusiasts.
• As a prestige gift, destined to unfold in the cellar and mark time.

Characteristics

• Name : Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2022, Domaine Bruno Clair
• Appellation : Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru AOC
• Type : Red wine, 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage : 2022
• Alcohol : 12.5%
• Viticulture : vines planted in 1946, 1962, 1978, 1980
• Winemaking : 30 to 50% whole clusters, 10 to 15 days maceration in wooden vats
• Elevage : 18 to 20 months in oak barrels, about 45% new
• Yield 2022 : 35 hl/ha
• Terroir : clay-limestone soils, limestone subsoil with entroques and marls with Ostrea acuminata, south-east exposure, average altitude 280 m
• Cellaring : minimum 10 years
• Critical notes : Wine Advocate 93 to 95/100