Domaine du Clos de Tart

Clos de Tart is the largest of the five Grand Cru Monopoles in Burgundy, with over 7.5 hectares to its name. Its beginnings date back to 1141 when Cistercian nuns purchased the land, holding ownership for multiple centuries, during which the domain rose to international prominence. In 2018, Francois Pinault, owner of Château Latour, Eisele Vineyard, and other renowned wine estates, purchased the domain, adding Clos de Tart to the Artemis Group's renowned portfolio. Under his guidance, Domaine du Clos de Tart remains one of wine's powerhouses, beloved by drinkers across the globe.

History of Clos de Tart Grand Cru

Before its inception as Clos de Tart, the estate was known as Climat de la Forge, located on prime terroir in the Morey Saint Denis appellation of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Like most estates at this time, ownership belonged to the church, and, in 1141, the Cistercian nuns of Tart Abbey stumbled upon the exquisite vineyard and purchased the plot. For nearly 600 years, the nuns masterfully showcased one of Burgundy's finest vineyards before relinquishing control to the government during the French Revolution. Following this short period, the Marey-Monge family purchased the estate and upgraded the chateau and vineyards, leading Clos de Tart to a Tête de Cuvée classification in 1855, one which held stricter rules than the modern-day Grand Cru classification.

After centuries of operating as one of Burgundy's top domains, Clos de Tart fell on hard times and struggled throughout much of the early 20th century. During the Great Depression, the domain was put up for sale, though only one person auctioned— Henri Mommessin. As the only bidder, Mommessin gained ownership of Clos de Tart and guided the domain back to the top of Burgundy, eventually instating Sylvain Pitiot in 1996, who is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest winemakers. 

Then, in 2018, the domain underwent its latest ownership change as Francois Pinault from the powerful Artemis Group purchased Clos de Tart for an incredible $260 million. 

Examining Where Clos de Tart Wine is Made

The domain is home to 7.5 hectares in the heart of Morey Saint Denis, one of Burgundy's most renowned appellations. Set on a picturesque hillside, the vines were planted with a North/South exposure rather than on the slope, an uncommon practice in the region. The unique sun exposure, however, protects the delicate pinot noir vines from erosion and ensures the grapes receive balanced sun exposure throughout the day, allowing them to reach optimal ripeness at a more efficient speed. With high density at 11,000 vines per hectare, the competition between the vines encourages the roots to dig deeper and receive higher-quality nutrients. And, at an average age of 60 years, the vines are some of the oldest in Burgundy and perfect for crafting world-class pinot noir. 

Clos de Tart Grand Cru Wine Vinification Process

Jacques Devauges was promptly chosen to take over as Sylvain Pitiot's successor in 2014, bringing invaluable experience from other Burgundy powerhouses like Domaine des Lambray and Domaine de l'Arlot. Aiding his winemaking process was the introduction of a new vat room in 2019, which enabled more precision and "haute-couture winemaking" to take place.

On the ground's limestone and marl soils, the fruit is manually harvested and sorted on a parcel-by-parcel basis. Fermentation takes place on native yeasts, and a post-fermentation maceration follows suit. Finally, the wine is blended without filtration, then aged in new oak barrels for 18 months, the first 9 of which are blended in individual batches with the succeeding 9 months seeing the blended wine aged.

All work on the vineyard is organic and biodynamic, as the estate earned certifications for both methods in 2015 and 2019, respectively. A green harvest takes place in August, in which only the five best bunches per vine are retained. Due to the soil's high limestone content, only a third of the vines can be fermented.

Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole: One of Burgundy's Finest Pinots

The domain's main label, Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole, is universally recognized as one of Burgundy's greatest wines, with its rich history captivating drinkers as far back as the 12th century. Each bottle is known for its balance of power and elegance, delivering outstanding consistency from vintage to vintage, thanks to the single vineyard. The crimson hue and dark, red fruit aromas allure drinkers at first, before delivering earthy, spicy notes and exquisite precision on the palate.

A second label, La Forge de Tart Premier Cru, is made from vines younger than 25 years, with only destemmed grapes finding their way into the final cuvée. As such, the label is a more approachable wine, often drunk in its younger years. Overall, only 2,500 cases are produced each vintage across both labels, making Clos de Tart wine incredibly rare and high value on the secondary market. Top vintages like the 2015 Clos de Tart and 2017 Clos de Tart are highly sought-after bottles and often difficult for consumers to acquire. As some of Burgundy's greatest gems, adding each to one's cellar is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Browse our collection of fine pinot noirs from Burgundy's largest Grand Cru Monopole and add a bottle of Domaine du Clos de Tart to your cellar today.