2013 Bonnes Mares
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru was showing some rather conspicuous new oak on the nose, though there is sufficient fruit underneath to soak that up. It just needs to develop more presence. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, fine tannin, a pinch of black pepper on the tip of the tongue with good heft behind it. What it lacks is killer precision on the finish, all the same, I admire the boldness of this Bonnes-Mares and that is often what I seek from this vineyard. Tasted September 2016.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Moderately saturated medium red. Highly nuanced scents of red cherry, raspberry, flowers and underbrush. At once silky and penetrating, showing a positive medicinal aspect to its flavors of red berries, flowers and spicy herbs. Very shapely wine with a rising finish featuring suave tannins and noteworthy finesse. A superb showing; this strikes me as more refined than the larger-scaled 2014.
The 2013 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a very well defined, mineral-driven bouquet that actually bears some similarities to the 2014. It is laconic at the moment, then delivers blackberry and bilberry scents, a touch of limestone. The palate is very well defined with blood orange and a touch of bay leaf infusing the black fruit. This is very complex, more than the Clos Saint Jacques with a slightly ferrous finish that is intriguing. This is a great wine, a superb and flattering Bonnes-Mares from Bruno Clair.
The 2013 Bonnes Mares is a wine of amplitude, power and depth, all supported by serious tannins that suggest it is going to enjoy a very long life. Hints of lavender, pine and rose petal grace the exquisite finish. There is plenty to admire in this statuesque, pedigreed Burgundy. Clair's Bonnes Mares emerges from a parcel on the Morey side of the vineyard adjacent to Clos de Tart.