2012 | Clos de Tart | Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole

Red Wine: 2012 | Clos de Tart | Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole

A deep, clear red in colour. Softly focused yet very attractive aromas in which classic raspberry fruits mingle with more autumnal scents of bramble banks and rosehips; concentrated, fine, fresh flavours which gradually grow tighter as the palate unfolds to the point that the finish is almost sinewy.

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Producer: Clos de Tart

Ratings: WA | 98 V | 96

Vintage: 2012

Size: 750ml

ABV: 14%

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Country/Region: France, Burgundy

A deep, clear red in colour. Softly focused yet very attractive aromas in which classic raspberry fruits mingle with more autumnal scents of bramble banks and rosehips; concentrated, fine, fresh flavours which gradually grow tighter as the palate unfolds to the point that the finish is almost sinewy.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot’s retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinot! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case – it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!

• Vinous: The 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is definitely one of the finer contributions from winemaker Sylvain Pitiot during his reign. One parcel was picked on September 19, but the main picking was September 28 until October 1. The yield was a measly 14.3hl/ha, alcohol at 14.2. It was also the first vintage entirely plowed by horse. It has a much fresher and more vital bouquet than the preceding vintage and appears to capture the essence of Pinot Noir with great aplomb. Raspberries, a punnet of freshly picked strawberries and a touch of pressed rose petals all join the wonderful, aromatic chorus line. The palate is very nicely structured, featuring crushed strawberry, raspberry preserve and light sour cherry notes. The tannins are finer here than in recent vintages perhaps more in the style that Jacques Desvauges has created in recent years. Superb.

Producer Information

Clos de Tart is a highly esteemed domaine based on a single grand cru monopole vineyard in the commune of Morey-Saint-Denis, in the Cte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy’s Cte d’Or. The estate produces two wines, both from Pinot Noir. Clos de Tart’s history dates back to a 12th Century abbey constructed by Cistercian nuns of the Notre Dame de Tart order. The vineyard has remained a monopole ever since. In 2017 the domaine was bought by French billionaire Franois Pinault for a figure thought to be in excess of 225 million ($260 million). Pinault’s investment group, Artemis, owns a host of high-profile domaines across France, including Chteau Grillet in Chteau Grillet (Condrieu) and Chteau Latour in Pauillac, Bordeaux, as well as Araujo Estate in California’s Napa Valley. The property was previously owned by the Mommessin family, who purchased the estate in 1932. The family sold its ngociant business (and name) to Jean-Claude Boisset, of the major Burgundy wine family, although the Mommessin family retained Clos de Tart until its sale to Pinault. The Mommessin brand has relocated to Beaujolais under the Boisset portfolio, while the wines of Clos de Tart ceased to carry the Mommessin name on the label for a period until the takeover in 2017. The vineyard covers 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) and earned its grand cru status in 1939. Clos de Tart (click on the link to see more on the grand cru vineyard itself) has a southeast exposure and is divided into six blocks with slight differences in soil composition and aspect. Each block is harvested and vinified separately to make the most of the differing microclimates. Vine work, including harvesting and training, is mostly done by hand due to the steep gradient of much of the vineyard. The property also has its own nursery where it cultivates massal selections of its vines for future replanting. The only two wines it produces are the Grand Cru Clos de Tart, and the Premier Cru La Forge de Tart that carries the Morey-Saint-Denis designation.