2022 Santenay Clos Genet, Domaine Françoise et Denis Clair

This is not a First Growth, but represents Santenay’s appealing fruitiness at a reasonable price, with engaging stylishness. It is consistently a success, and time has shown it ages well. The vines lie up-slope from the Clair domaine buildings, downhill from First Growth La Maladière. Colour is intense ruby purple, with spicy, fresh aromatics on the nose. There is dense, tight fruitiness on the palate. This needs a year or two in bottle to soften and emerge into smoothness (for drinking 2025-2028+).