A slightly riper nose of red and blue pinot fruit warm earth and subtle animale notes that can also be found on the textured supple and delicious flavors that retain a fine sense of delineation on the rich mouth coating serious and long finish. This doesn't have quite the finesse of the Petite Chapelle but the personality here is quite distinct from the other Gevrey 1ers in the range.

Cassis dark cherry violet and resinous herbs on the nose of Clair's 2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Fonteny (tasted from barrel) follow on a palate of firm fine tannin and formidable grip. Stony and humus-like notes point in the usually dark direction of this site here accentuated by the bitter proclivities of the vintage. Yet the whole impression is enlivened by the freshness of berry fruit and is one of depth and energy. This should be worth following for at least 10-12 years and I suspect it will prove capable of considerable nuance. -David Schildknecht