Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Les Jarrons" AOC 2023

A premier cru from Savigny-lès-Beaune bearing the hallmark of Domaine Bruno Clair: clear, juicy fruit, fine tartness and a taut, saline edge. Lean-framed yet deep, with silky tannin and a long mineral finish. Little show, plenty of origin.

Savigny-lès-Beaune lies in a side valley of the Côte de Beaune. Domaine Bruno Clair in Marsannay-la-Côte farms 27 hectares across eight villages of the Côte d'Or and bottles 32 appellations. Its origins date back to 1919, when Joseph Clair and Marguerite Daü merged their vineyards in Marsannay. Bruno Clair founded his own estate in 1986, initially with seven hectares. Today the sixth generation is at work: Edouard in the vineyard and winemaking, Arthur in cellar aging, Margaux in shipping and logistics. Cover crops and no herbicides are standard practice.

Pure Pinot Noir. In the cellar, the rule is: as much as necessary, as little as possible. Spontaneous fermentation, measured extraction, 20 to 50 percent whole clusters in the fermentation vat. Aging lasts 18 to 20 months in barriques, with new oak between 20 and 50 percent. 13.5% Vol., dry.

Red cherry, raspberry and redcurrant, with violet and a fine herbal spice. The tannin stays silky, the edge cool and mineral, the finish long.

Duck breast with cherries, coq au vin and braised veal shoulder, as well as mushroom dishes such as porcini risotto or chanterelles on toasted bread. With cheese, aged Comté or Époisses. Serve at 16 degrees and open an hour beforehand.

The wines rest long enough in the cellar to be bottled without technical fining: transparent, unadorned, age-worthy. The younger generation is increasing the share of whole clusters and lowering sulfur levels. Allocations remain tight.