Medium colour. The aromas plumb a great depth of clean dark fruit and a little forest floor – occasional halves of these are showing VA, but not this full bottle. A narrow entry slowly widens; the tannin is almost all resolved but still delivers a little bitter chocolate in the finish. The acidity is just a hint prominent, but there’s nothing currently to worry about. The fruit has plenty of sweet maturity about it, particularly I like the strong note it holds in the mid-palate. No shame in drinking these now, and to my taste the last bottle about three years ago was better, but like most burgundy there’s no rush!
Clair Bruno
1997 Clair Bruno Marsannay Les Longerois
Medium ruby which seems to shine from the glass. The nose right from the start shows a beautifully deep fruit profile – red and black sweet fruits. Good, though slightly cooked, fruit on the palate – persistent too. The acidity is good with slightly grainy tannins. Great now and no problem to leave in the cellar – a bottle which was drained much too quickly(!)
1998 Clair Bruno Marsannay Les Longerois
Deep red cherry colour with a hit of purple, matched by an impressively deep nose – bright raspberry, red cherry with coffee and the faintest whiff of vanilla. The medium palate has really concentrated cherry and redcurrant. Lingering acidity, very smooth tannin and a long finish. Very hard to resist already. I bought 3 of these in a sale for only 11.9€ each, I’d happily pay the full price of 14.5€ for some more. Super.