Domaine Bruno Clair
Overview
Domaine Bruno Clair is one of Gevrey-Chambertin’s finest estates, known for exceptional wines at all levels from Marsannay to grand cru. Bruno Clair inherited parcels from the legendary Clair-Daü estate when it was dissolved, giving him access to exceptional old vines in Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares, and multiple Gevrey premier crus. The domaine’s style is traditional and precise, with notable restraint.
Appellations
- Marsannay (red, white, rosé)
- Gevrey-Chambertin (villages, 1er crus: Clos Saint-Jacques, Cazetiers, Petite Chapelle, Clos du Fonteny, Clos de Fonteny)
- Chambolle-Musigny (1er crus)
- Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
- Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
- Vosne-Romanée
- Savigny-lès-Beaune
My Cellar
54 total bottles (19 recent).
- Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru: 22 btls (5 pending), 2014–2022
- Chambertin-Clos de Bèze: 10 btls (8 pending), 2015–2022
- Bonnes Mares: 7 btls, 2013–2022
- Gevrey-Chambertin villages: 5 btls, 2018–2020
- Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru: 6 btls, 2022
- Chambolle-Musigny villages: 4 btls, 2013–2015
Deep position in Clos de Bèze — among the most-sought after Gevrey grand crus.
Style Notes
Bruno Clair produces wines of unusual restraint and precision for Gevrey. The style favors finesse over power, with cool-fruit character and structural elegance. The Clos de Bèze needs 10–15 years to fully open. The Gevrey premier crus (Clos Saint-Jacques, Cazetiers) represent exceptional quality.
2023 Vintage Notes
Visited January 2025. Full range produced in the generous 2023 vintage. Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares, Gevrey premier crus (Clos Saint-Jacques, Cazetiers) all produced. The 2023s showed the vintage’s characteristic richness combined with the Clair house style’s precision and restraint.
2024 Vintage Notes (Burghound #101, barrel)
Bruno Clair’s sons Edouard and Arthur now handle day-to-day operations. On 2024: “the most difficult growing season ever.” Flowering cost 30%, mildew did the rest — down 70% (avg 12 hl/ha). Picked September 18. Potential alcohols ~12.5%. Used ~30% whole clusters, no more than 6-8 punchdowns total. Much less new wood than normal. No Gevrey “Bel Air” for next few vintages (pulled up).
2024 Scores (barrel):
- Chambertin-Clos de Bèze: (92-94)
- Bonnes Mares: (92-94)
- Gevrey “Les Cazetiers” 1er: (91-93)
- Gevrey “Clos St. Jacques” 1er: (91-93)
- Chambolle “Les Charmes” 1er: (90-92)
- Gevrey “Clos du Fonteny” 1er: (90-93)
- Vosne-Romanée “Aux Raignots” 1er: (90-93)
- Vosne-Romanée “Champs Perdrix”: (89-91)
- Chambolle “Les Véroilles”: (89-91)
- Gevrey-Chambertin: (89-91)
- Savigny “La Dominode” 1er: (89-91) — vines planted 1902
- Savigny “Aux Jarrons” 1er: (88-91)
- Morey “En la Rue de Vergy”: (88-91)
- Marsannay “Les Longeroies”: (88-91)
- Marsannay “Les Vaudenelles”: (87-89)
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2025 #115.txtsources/articles/Burghound/Burghound Issue 101 - 2024 and 2023 Cote de Nuits Reds.txt