Medium cherry-red colour. A very nice width of high-toned fruit on the nose, slowly it takes on a clear red berry complexion. Good depth and a furry texture on the palate. The acidity is nicely balanced and the medium-weight flavours last very well. A six-pack offered for 93 Swiss francs is a bit of a bargain for a wine with such personality.
Clair Francoise et Denis
2005 Clair Francoise et Denis Santenay
Medium, medium-plus cherry-red. The nose starts like cherryade and whilst it becomes a little finer, on day one it never loses the intense cherry although in the background there’s an additional mineral edge. Day two it’s much more interesting with a red berry note behind the cherry – very nice. The main impression on the palate is a rather forward acidity – it’s clean and lingering but certainly pronounced – for all that it has quite some intensity. Day two it’s a little rounder. It’s nice enough wine, and without some of the extra ripeness of many from this vintage. It’s not very expensive yet becomes ever-more serious if you give it enough time. In 2005 there’s a lot of competition at the lower price points, this is good but doesn’t excel.
2003 Clair Francoise et Denis Santenay Clos Genet
Deep colour. The nose obviously 2003 but is broad and interesting, plenty of good fruit and almost an edge of raisin fruit too. Concentrated, and like most 2003’s below 20°C seems quite fresh. The tannin is reasonably refined too. Medium finish but long on value at ~€12 – very strong quality at this level.
2001 Clair Francoise et Denis Santenay Clos Genet
Medium cherry-red colour, heading to a more ruby hue at the rim. Wide, if fairly diffuse, red fruit covered by some higher tones – given time, a rather good and piercing red berry-fruit note comes through. The fruit is broad-shouldered, less obviously ripe than the ’99, but nicely sweet as it enters the mid-palate and seemingly just a twist of licorice / oak-toast in the finish. Certainly less precise than their 99 Santenay, but still well-made and a bit of a bargain.