Domaine Bruno Clavelier - Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru La Combe d'Orveaux 2017
Price: $229.96
Producer | Domaine Bruno Clavelier |
Country | France |
Region | Burgundy |
Varietal | Pinot Noir |
Vintage | 2017 |
Sku | 794106 |
Size | 750ml |
Former professional rugby player Bruno Clavelier is one of the most enthusiastic and energetic personalities one can come across in Burgundy. Our visit to his Domaine a few years ago cemented his small production wines permanently on our radar. Bruno describes the 2018s as having the potential to be great. Despite the warm conditions Bruno was able to capture a surprising amount of freshness and fruit clarity.
Despite the small stature of the Domaine, 6.5ha, Bruno's holdings are well placed and blessed with old vines up to 80 years old. Of the available 2018s no cuvee is made from younger than 50 year old vines. Bruno calls his vines the estate's "treasure" and he manages them biodynamically. Bruno, as a former rugby player, has many former rugby player friends and they are the workhorses for the annual harvest which, is 100% manual. Vinification happens in oak vats with native yeasts. Not much new oak is used; about a third for the 1er Crus and 'less' for the others. The results show generous flavors and most importantly, the terroir.
La Combe d'Orveau is sandwiched between Echezeaux and Petit-Musigny. Bruno believes that it should be a grand cru like its neigbors; as it was pre-phylloxera. Nevertheless, despite its 'relegation'* to 1er Cru status, it still has the additional dimension that makes it a wine that like Musigny, requires time to achieve its best expression.
*A portion of La Combe d'Orveaux is still allowed to be labeled as Musigny but not the portion that Bruno (and others) exploits. La Combe d'Orveaux is interestingly a vineyard that has portions allowable in Village, 1er Cru, and Grand Cru wines.
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