Domaine Bruno Clavelier, Vosne-Romanee, Combe Brulee 2022 - 75cl
La Combe Brûlée is a village lieu-dit in Vosne-Romanée, but the vines here are anything but ordinary — Bruno Clavelier works a parcel of more than 85-year-old vines tucked into a small closed valley at the foot of the slope. It punches well above village level, and the 2022 vintage, ripe and generous with fresh acidity, suits it perfectly.
Clavelier is one of the Côte de Nuits' most thoughtful biodynamic growers, and this site is a favourite for good reason. The combe is a natural funnel: cool air flows down the valley while the hillside stone radiates warmth, giving slower, more even ripening. The soil is chalky limestone with a silica content that Clavelier credits for the smoky, gunflint character that runs through the wine.
Expect a stony, mineral nose — wild berries, violet and a note of warm rock — with the classic Vosne spice underneath. The palate is pure and energetic, medium-bodied, with a real sense of tension and drive; fine tannins, bright acidity and that gunflint thread carrying a long, precise finish. There is old-vine depth here without any heaviness.
A genuine step up for a midweek treat or a quiet celebration — grower Burgundy from a serious address, drinking beautifully now but happy to rest a few years.
How to Serve
Serve at 15-16°C in Burgundy stems. Give it half an hour of air or a gentle decant to let the fruit and florals unfurl over the perfume of the old vines.
Where to Drink It
Planque in Haggerston, made for grower Burgundy by the bottle. Noble Rot for the list and the mood. The Wolseley for an unhurried lunch.
Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherries, or a mushroom-heavy dish that echoes the wine's earthy side. Roast chicken never disappoints here either.
