JC in France May - June 2018 | Day 17
While yesterday we concentrated on the Cote de Beaune subregion, today it is all about the Cote de Nuits. After picking up the troops from their hotel we driving north from Beaune we took the 'Route des Grands Crus". As you leave the city the very first wine village (still in the Cote de Beaune at this stage) you come across is Savigny les Beaune then Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. Three beautiful little villages surrounded by their vineyards that look so good at this time of the year – so lush and green. We took the time to go up to the top of the hill behind the village of Pernand and admire the view of the Grand Cru hill of Corton and Corton–Charlemagne as well as the slopes of the Cote d'Or. We kept driving north to finally get into the Cotes de Nuits, once we had passed the village of Corgoloin. The landscape does not change dramatically (although the slopes are a bit steeper) but it’s very much in the soil composition that lies the difference – the clay is deeper, darker, redder and significantly with less apparent limestone.
Our first meeting of the day is at a very special place and so for many reasons – Domaine/vineyard of 'Clos de Tart' is as old as 900 years, it was owned only by four owners over this period, only 7,53 ha Monople, single vineyard and all in Grand Cru. It was bought last April by one of France's wealthiest man – Mr François Pinault for the approximate sum of E250M and finally, like my little group, it was my first visit here. Quite special. This is not a place that accepts visitors but I am lucky to know very well the person in charge of the domaine and he kindly offered to show us around. This is an Estate that has hardly changed in 900 years - so imagine the history that we've just entered and experienced. We tasted first, the many components that will make the 2017 wine (all of them will eventually being blended). Jacques (my contact) created for us a 'semblant' of the final blend just to give us an idea – what an experience! My tasting note reads: 'Small dark berries with spices. Very complex.