2023 Domaine Bruno Clair Marsannay 'La Charme Aux Prêtres'

Domaine Bruno Clair's 2023 Marsannay 'La Charme Aux Prêtres' is a single-vineyard Pinot Noir from one of the Côte de Nuits' most consistently excellent estates, sourced from a parcel of less than one hectare planted in 1962 and 1980. The site sits at around 300 meters elevation on clay-limestone soils over crinoidal limestone and marl, with a southeastern exposure that allows for slow, even ripening. This bottling earned a 96-point score for the vintage, a genuine standout even by Bruno Clair's high standards. Bruno Clair founded the domaine in 1979, and winemaker Philippe Brun has worked alongside him since the very beginning, bringing continuity and precision to an estate that now stretches from Marsannay through Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, and into Grand Cru parcels including Clos Saint-Jacques and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. The vineyards are farmed sustainably, with meticulous attention to soil health and vine balance. In the cellar, this cuvée is vinified with 30 to 50 percent whole cluster, fermented with ambient yeast in open wood vats with hand punch-downs, then aged 18 to 20 months in barrel, about a fifth of it new French oak. That extended élevage gives the wine its structure and fine-grained texture without overwhelming the fruit. The 2023 vintage shows dark and delicate at once, with black cherry, summer berry, and a touch of black strawberry all carried by energetic acidity and velvety tannins. The finish is long and finessed, the kind that lingers and evolves in the glass. It's a wine that rewards patience but drinks beautifully now with roasted duck, grilled lamb, or a simple plate of charcuterie and aged comté. Marsannay is often Burgundy's overlooked appellation, but in the hands of a producer like Bruno Clair, it delivers Grand Cru-level precision at a fraction of the price. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.