2014 Bruno Clair Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Cazetiers'

ETA mid-November 2024

Bruno Clair started his own domaine in 1979 with small holdings in Marsannay, Fixin, Morey and Savigny Dominode. Alongside this sat his family's Clair-Dau estate, one of the great Burgundian domaines, however following the death of his grandfather Joseph Clair family disaggreements sadly lead to its dismantling in 1985. The following year, to add to his own small domaine, Bruno was entrusted with the vineyards of his parents, brothers and sisters which included those of Clos de Bèze, Cazetiers, Clos St-Jacques, Vosne-Romanée, Clos du Fonteny and Chambolle-Musigny. Bruno Clair’s wings are spread widely over the Côte d’Or covering nine appellations in total.

Bruno, first and foremost, is a vigneron adopting an approach that involves back-breaking vineyard work and minimal intervention winemaking, using a mixture of large old wooden foudres and smaller barriques for the long slow ageing process. New oak, though used, is kept relatively low - rarely going above 40% even for the Grands Crus. Edouard and Arthur Clair, Bruno's sons, are an exciting, committed new generation gradually taking over, gently introducing a few enhancements such as increased whole bunch percentages and less sulphur usage. 

"Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, the 2014 Gevrey Chambertin 1Er Cru Cazetiers has a powerful bouquet with plenty of black cherry, sous bois and subtle licorice notes emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, quite backward, but for a Cazetiers, there is serious substance here, smooth and harmonious toward the finish and very persistent on the aftertaste. Give this several years in bottle and you will have a superb Cazetiers, one of the best this vintage. Chapeau, Bruno!, (WA, 94 points)".