The classic Bonnes-Mares wine is heavier and more structured than its counterparts from the nearby Le Musigny climat.

October 1, 2010

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Bonnes-Mares is a Grand Cru vineyard site and corresponding appellation of the Cote de Nuits sub-region in Burgundy. The site is of average size for a Burgundy Grand Cru site (or climat), covering 37 acres (15 hectares), the majority of which lies within the commune boundaries of Chambolle-Musigny. The northern end of the site (about 3.7 acres/1.5 hectares) crosses over into Morey-Saint-Denis, and abuts the Clos de Tart Grand Cru site.

Although there are several proposed etymologies for the Bonnes-Mares name, the most widely believed is that it is a reference to the Cistercian Bonnes Meres ‘good mothers’ of the nearby Notre Dame de Tart abbey. This was the first Cistercian monastery for women, established in 1125, and gives its name to the Bonnes-Mares’ northern Grand Cru neighbor Clos de Tart.

Bonnes-Mares produces exclusively red wines, made predominantly from Pinot Noir. To accommodate for planting variations and mutations within the ancient vine rows, the Bonne-Mares appellation laws permit the inclusion of up to 15% of the white varieties Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. This is the case for almost all of red wines from the Cote d’Or, but has become less and less necessary over time, as the region’s traditional vignerons have embraced modern agricultural methods.

Ownership of land within Bonnes-Mares is spread over more than 30 producers, and a look at the Chambolle-Musigny plan cadastral (parish plan with every plot annotated with the name of its owners) shows just how meticulously defined the plots are.

Napoleonic inheritance laws dictate that inheritance is divided equally between all members of a subsequent generation, so this number will only increase over time, or until an organizational change is made.

The classic Bonnes-Mares wine is heavier and more structured than its counterparts from the nearby Le Musigny climat, and is renowned for its cellaring potential rather than early consumption. A well made Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru improves slowly for between thirty and fifty years. There are visible soil variations within the site, which in turn lead to variations in wine style; the translation of terroir into wine is becoming more emphasized over time, as the site is divided between more and more owners with each generation. Those plots at the Morey-Saint-Denis end of the site have richer, deeper soils, whereas those at the southern end near Chambolle are finer and lighter, with a higher proportion of limestone. The former render more austere, weightier Bonnes-Mares wines, the latter a silkier, more perfumed style.

The regional climate is of continental type, with hot dry summers, but relatively long cool winters. The vines benefit from increased diurnal temperature variation, helping to create a balance between sugars and acids in the resulting wines.

Source: http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-bonnes-mares

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