2011 Clos de Tart
By Mommessin
2011 Clos de Tart from Mommessin, Grand Cru, Burgundy, France
One of the most compelling narratives in the luminous tapestry of Burgundy is that of the 2011 Clos de Tart from Mommessin. This Grand Cru vineyard, historically monopole, tells a tale of grace under the whimsical skies of its growing season. With four decades behind me, my encounters with Clos de Tart have been nothing short of splendid, and yet the 2011 vintage bears its own distinctive watermark in this storied lineage.
The Singular Tapestry of the 2011 Vintage
The year 2011 was punctuated by an uncharacteristically warm spring followed by a cooler summer, setting the stage for an early harvest. Compelled by these climatic caprices, the vines demonstrated remarkable adaptability yielding a wine that eloquently speaks of its genesis. The 2011 Clos de Tart showcases a poised assembly of red fruits, infused with subtle earthy tones and lifted by a minerality that anchors its Burgundian heritage. This vintage resonates with a degree of freshness typically reserved for younger wines, yet it paradoxically exhibits the complex structure that one anticipates from mature Burgundy.
A Symphony On The Palate: Investment Meets Endearment
On tasting, the wine reveals languid layers of cherry and raspberry confit suffused with anise and a whisper of violet. The palate is greeted with supple tannins—a hallmark of care and precision in viticulture and enology at Mommessin. The adept use of oak frames the fruit exquisitely, resulting in a symphonic finish that endures impressively.
Fine wine investors will recognise the potential for this vintage to evolve further within their cellars. The 2011 Clos de Tart holds promise for graceful ageing—an inviting prospect for those who seek to marry passion with prudence.
Concluding Vintner’s Verdict
The 2011 Clos de Tart from Mommessin encapsulates the virtues of its vintage and terroir with finesse. It is a wine that not only entices with its immediate charm but also holds within its ruby depths the capacity to reveal profound elegance overtime. As it continues to unfold, discerning investors and aficionados alike would do well to heed its call.
Market price (GBP)
£4,620.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
330
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2011 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a distinctly more herbaceous and leafier nose than the 2012. Here we are walking in woodland around mid-October, the damp ground strewn with brown leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly more rustic tannins than the 2012, but there is tremendous depth here and it seems to gain complexity toward the finish that gently fans out. It is another elegant Clos de Tart that will drink over the next 20 years.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 October 2015