Clos de Tart : Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole 1986

Tasting characteristics and advice for Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole 1986 from Clos de Tart

Tasting

Color

The color shows a red hue, less concentrated than vintages produced in warmer years, reflecting the delicate nature of this vintage.

Nose

The nose is very sweet, with pronounced notes of shiitake mushroom, suggesting an earthy, rustic character. These aromas evoke damp, woodland soils. With aeration, the bouquet evolves toward hints of vanilla and violet, while the earthy and mineral notes become more pronounced.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows a certain austerity typical of the year, with a dry yet finely textured tannic structure. After several decades of cellaring, the tannins have softened to offer a silky texture. The palate reveals a rustic freshness with remarkable finesse and a robust character, testifying to an impressive ability to age gracefully.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole 1986 pairs beautifully with roasted poultry, duck prepared with red-fruit sauces, or game such as partridge, pheasant, and venison. Mushrooms—especially porcini and truffles—create an exceptional gastronomic harmony with the wine’s earthy notes. Delicacies such as foie gras, as well as game pâtés and terrines, also make excellent accompaniments. Soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, along with aged cheeses such as Comté, harmonize perfectly with this vintage.

Serving and cellaring

Clos de Tart Grand cru Monopole 1986 has cellaring potential of up to 25 years or more. After several decades of aging, this vintage has likely reached, or is approaching, its peak, offering increasing complexity developed over time.

A Burgundy Grand Cru Monopole with a rustic character and remarkable aging potential

The estate

Founded in 1141 by the Cistercian nuns of the Abbey of Tart, Clos de Tart is an exceptional 7.53-hectare estate that has never been divided throughout its nine centuries of existence. Located in Morey-Saint-Denis in Burgundy, this Grand Cru Monopole was acquired in 1932 by the Mommessin family before coming under the ownership of François Pinault in 2018. The estate stands out for its unique Grand Cru Monopole status—entirely enclosed by a historic dry-stone wall—and for its commitment to organic farming since 2015 and biodynamic practices since 2019.

The vineyard

The Clos de Tart vineyard spans 7.53 hectares in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, bordered to the north by the grands crus of Gevrey-Chambertin and to the south by Chambolle-Musigny. The vines are planted along an unusual north-south orientation rather than along the slope, at an altitude ranging from 269 to 302 meters. The terroir rests on limestone and marl-limestone soils, creating a mosaic of twelve distinct micro-terroirs. The vines, with an average age of 60 years and some century-old plants, are grown at a high density of 11,000 vines per hectare, encouraging deep root systems and exceptional grape quality.

The vintage

The year 1986 was marked by capricious weather conditions that tested the resilience of the vineyards of Burgundy. Despite these climatic challenges, Clos de Tart produced a wine that carries within it the stories of this viticultural struggle, reflecting the demanding nature of the vintage.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir