Marsannay

If you go south from Dijon - just beyond the suburbs - the first wine producing village with its own appellation is Marsannay. Ever since the twenties a rosé is produced which is one of the most elegant in whole of France. We visited Bruno Clair, the grandson of the originator of this particular rosé and tasted some of his wines.

Domaine Bruno Clair

The property of the Domaine Bruno Clair is rather large for Burgundy measures. It consists partly of the legendary Domaine Clair-Daü that was split up in the eighties. Bruno Clair owns climates in many places in the Côte d'Or.

reds:

Marsannay Rosé 1997
Good rosé. Colour of red onion skinn, mineral, flintstone, good fruit. Consumable up to 2000 (42FF).

Marsannay Les Grasses Têtes 1992
In the colour first signs of maturity. The wine is already open and the bouquet now unfolded, but is obviously just shortly before its top.
2000+. Very good relation between price and quality. (58 FF)

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos du Fontenay 1994
A climate owned only by Clair. Fine bouquet. Elder-berries, raspberries, cassia. In the mouth complex and pleasant, soft tannins, spicy, still green touch, rather sweet (149FF)

Similar to many excellent domains of the Côte d'Or, the 1996 was completely sold out. And even what was left over wasn't much. A very good relation between price and quality you find with the several Marsannay climates. Burgundies that are full bodied and also fine, but at the same time not too complex, but they represent never the less fine, typical Burgundies. You can study and follow the terroir concept which plays an important role in the Côte d'Or with the three different Maresennay climates Les Grasses Têtes, Les Vaudenelles and Les Longeroies.

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