Domaine du Clos de Tart 'Clos de Tart' Grand Cru 2017

“The 2017 Clos de Tart Grand Cru was matured in around 80% new oak, the barrels toasted chauff blonde. Jacques Desvauges mentioned that the wine needed oxygen ingress during maturation that only new oak can give. I tasted the component parts (as usual) as well as the blend. This has a very detailed, delineated bouquet offering mainly black fruit mixed with sous-bois, tobacco, clove and bay leaf, the typicité of the appellation showing through nicely. It feels very succinct and yet so fresh. The palate is beautifully balanced on the entry with a killer line of acidity. Pure black cherry fruit is joined by bilberry, hints of black olive and a marine/oyster shell tincture that comes through quite strongly toward the persistent, saline finish, which fans out with confidence. This is a brilliant follow-up to the benchmark 2016 by Jacques Desvauges and his team.” 

96-98 points, Neal Martin, Vinous

“80% new wood, mostly from François Frères and Taransaud. The blend of the various different cuvées seems if anything to be the deepest in colour, with pure refreshing red fruit, mostly raspberry in style but it is a mix of all the little red fruits. The whole bunch component, which varies according to each plot, has been tamed. There is a wonderful burst of rich velvet coated red fruit with a lovely crisp and crunchy tingle at the back. Fine tannins, good acidity, very much in balance.” 

94-98 points, Jasper Morris,