Burgundy
Domaine Bruno Clair
The story of Domaine Bruno Clair is fascinating in its scope, stretching from humble beginnings to achieving celebrity, experiencing ruin and subsequent rebirth.
The little-known history of the Bruno Clair winery can be attributed to the modesty of Bruno Clair himself and his hometown of Marsanne. However, wine lovers familiar with the Burgundian wine tradition appreciate this domaine as one of the region's leading producers.
Sooner or later, a wide audience of wine aficionados will recognize and appreciate the unique terroir wines of this outstanding domaine.
Marsannay, located in the north of the Côte de Nuits, is known as one of the underrated gems of Burgundy and is described as the "Golden Gate to the Côte de Nuits". Bruno Clair founded his eponymous estate in 1979.
The Clair family history is complex, which is typical of Burgundy's winemaking families.
The Clairs were among the first to plant Pinot Noir in a region that had previously favored Gamay. Today, the domaine has some of the best vineyards in the region, including the renowned Clos de Bèze and Bonnes-Mares.
Since the 1990s, Domaine Bruno Clair has abandoned the use of herbicides. Instead of mechanical treatment of the vines, manual care and the use of cover crops to stimulate soil microbial activity are favored.
The grape harvest often starts early, with Bonnes-Mares harvested first, followed by Clos de Bèze. Starting in 2015, whole bunches began to be used in the fermentation process, with the proportion gradually reaching 30% or more in the blend. Wines are typically aged in barrels for 18 to 20 months, with up to half of the barrels for red wines being new, mostly from François Frères, Rousseau, and Seguin Moreau.
The domaine's white wines are fermented either in new barrels (up to 20%) or in large oak tanks.
The domaine pays special attention to the production of rosé wine.
Domaine Bruno Clair rightly ranks among the leading Burgundy producers. The amazing quality and diversity of the range are underlined by the talent and confidence of the cellar staff, a deep understanding of terroir, and hard work. Domaine Bruno Clair wines should be carefully considered as a great investment for your wine collection.
Tasting Domaine Bruno Clair wines shows that their vineyards are in an ideal location and have the right terroir to create outstanding wines. Below, we take a look at several vintages from Domaine Bruno Clair so that buyers can better understand the characteristics of Marsanne terroir and the characteristics of Bruno Clair wines.
Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2009
This substantial parcel of Bruno Clair vineyards, planted with mostly old vines (some planted as early as 1912), produces a wine of marked concentration. With a little bottle age, the wine expresses aromas of smoky, rich black plum fruit with notes of leather, smoke and earth. The wine has an open, silky texture and leaves a lasting impression. This is a wine that will be remembered for a long time!
Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002
This wine is open and approachable with impressive, ripe flavors, yet it retains enough freshness of fruit to suggest further development in the cellar. Initial notes include Havana cigars and smoke.
Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2003
This vintage stands out for its uniqueness among other wines from this vineyard. It retains an inky-dark color and lively, youthful aromas of cassis and black cherry, showing intensity and power on the palate.
Domaine Bruno Clair Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1961
This deep and mystical wine is rich with notes of black plum, fig, and candied fruit in the aroma, complemented by earthy hints of truffle, licorice, and exotic Asian spices that enchant with their richness.
Domaine Bruno Clair Clos-St-Jacques 1er Cru Gevrey-Chambertin 2015
This wine impresses with abundant, ripe aromas of mulberry, pomegranate, and plum accompanied by a delightful earthy complexity. The texture of the wine is firm but supple and pleasing, showing a lack of tartness. The wine is just beginning its development.
Domaine Bruno Clair 1er Cru Dominode Savigny-lès-Beaune 2020
The first vines on this site were planted in 1902, and although some of them were replanted between 1920 and 1940, this is the oldest vineyard under Bruno Clair's management.
Clair notes: "You get all three suns here," meaning here...Though it's best to ask him personally.
For those who want to learn more about the history of Domaine Bruno Clair, visit, dive into vertical tasting vintages, and meet the people who produce some of the most interesting Burgundy wines, the team at Lambier Wines organizes private trips to Domaine Bruno Clair.