2023 Francoise & Denis Clair - Santenay Rouge Tavannes (750ml)

Domaine Françoise et Denis Clair was founded in 1986 by Denis Clair, who began bottling wine from family land around Santenay. His wife Françoise, born in neighboring Saint-Aubin, helped build the estate, and their son Jean-Baptiste joined in 2000 to work the vines. The family now farms about fifteen hectares across Santenay and Saint-Aubin, prized for red wines of real character at fair prices.

This bottling comes from Clos de Tavannes, a premier cru vineyard at the northern edge of Santenay bordering Chassagne-Montrachet, planted entirely to Pinot Noir on clay and limestone soils that lend the wine its characteristic minerality. Some of the vines are several decades old. The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted, then fermented and aged in oak barrels, with a portion of new wood chosen to add depth without overwhelming the fruit.

In the glass this Santenay shows a fragrant, complex nose of red cherry, blackcurrant and violet, layered over subtle spice. The palate is concentrated yet elegant, with well-ripened tannins giving structure beneath a silky, almost velvety texture, and a long, mineral-tinged finish. It is a wine built to reward a few years in the cellar. Pour it alongside roasted duck, braised beef, or a well-aged cheese.