Bonnes-Mares

Bonnes-Mares is a Grand Cru appellation located in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, straddling the villages of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. The vineyard covers approximately 15 hectares, making it one of the smaller Grand Cru sites in Burgundy. The appellation was classified as Grand Cru in 1936 as part of the AOC system.

The vineyard sits at elevations between 270 and 300 meters on a gentle east-facing slope. The soils are predominantly limestone-clay with varying compositions across the site - the Chambolle-Musigny portion tends toward lighter, more limestone-rich soils, while the Morey-Saint-Denis section contains deeper clay deposits. Only Pinot Noir is permitted, and traditional Burgundian winemaking methods dominate, with hand-harvesting and aging in French oak barrels standard practice.

Bonnes-Mares wines typically display greater power and structure than neighboring Chambolle-Musigny Grand Crus, reflecting the influence of clay-rich soils. The wines often exhibit dark fruit characteristics with earthy, mineral undertones and firm tannins that require extended aging to fully develop. The diverse soil composition across the vineyard creates subtle variations in style, with wines from different parcels showing either more finesse or more robust character depending on their precise location within the appellation.