Clos de Tart : Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole 2018

The expression of a solar vintage within a great wine of Burgundy, where power is synonymous with elegance

The property

Clos de Tart is a unique Burgundy estate owing to its 900 years of rich history. Today, it is the Pinault family, known for their love of historical estates such as Château Latour in Pauillac, who takes close care of the grounds at the Clos. As such, significant renovation work has been carried out in order to enhance the estate’s exceptional architectural heritage. Amongst other things, a new winery was inaugurated in 2019 and this marvel of modernity paved the way for haute couture winemaking, bringing the estate to new heights of excellence.

The vineyard

The 2018 Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole is made from plots in the Clos de Tart vineyard, located at the heart of Côte de Nuits. The pinot noir vines, aged by 60 years on average, are laid out from north to south and are deeply rooted in soils which vary between limestone, clay, pebbles, gravel and marl. This homogeneous exposure and complex geology led the owners to demarcate the Clos into 12 different microclimates, all harvested separately. To preserve this precious terroir, Clos de Tart has been cultivated with biodynamic agriculture since 2016, obtaining the Biodyvin certification in 2019.

The wine

The 2018 Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole is a Grand Cru Monopole, a most prestigious denomination. In fact, the Grand Cru classification only brings together terroirs which produces the rarest wines. The Clos de Tart has the particular characteristic of being the largest Grand Cru Monopole in Burgundy, with its sometimes 100-year-old vines which cover 7.53 hectares. Regarding the ‘Monopole’ aspect, this implies that the vineyard has never been subdivided during handovers, something rare for Burgundy.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage opened with a very mild winter and spring, with the exception of a few cool days in March. Nevertheless, the buds broke a week later than usual. Subsequently, the mild temperatures were accompanied by significant precipitation. These conditions brought about an early flowering. However, in June, the weather became very hot and dry, lasting throughout the summer. The early harvests began thus from the end of August. The harvests provided grapes that were very ripe and, as a result, no sortings were carried out.

Winemaking and ageing

After the harvests, which took place from 30 August to 3 September, the best grapes of the pinot noir variety were taken to the cellar to begin a very precise winemaking process. The wine was aged in oak barrels, of which 80% were new, before being bottled in May 2020.

Blend

Pinot Noir (100%).

Tasting

Colour

The 2018 Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole is a beautiful, deep colour.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals a complexity sustained by generous aromas of red berries, ripe plums and cherries, highlighted by touches of black fruits and flowers such as violets or roses.

Palate

The 2018 Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole is a great wine from Burgundy which wonderfully expresses its solar vintage through its intense, powerful and fleshy character. Its style is punctuated by a great elegance thanks to the soft, silky tannins which gives it structure.