Domaine Bart Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2019

Alcohol: 13%

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

Localization:  Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Tasting notes: This is at once a bit fresher and certainly spicier with its pretty, even airy, aromas of red currant, Asian-style tea, rose petal, and a whiff of lavender. There is terrific verve to the even better delineated if not quite as seductively textured flavors that exhibit very fine length on the balanced and refreshing finale.

Food pairing: Duck, Goose, and Game Birds

The Domain: When we talk about Burgundy, we always talk about land. Where was the fruit grown? Where did it come from? How regarded is the vineyard in terms of its terroir?  Pierre Bart is the current generation and beating heart of Domaine Bart. Bart’s grandmother is from the same family as Côte de Nuits icon Bruno Clair, and she brought an impressive collection of vines to the table when Domaine Bart was first established in the mid-1900s: small but priceless parcels in Grand Crus Bonnes-Mares and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. Over the years, the Bart family acquired vines in Chambolle and Gevrey, and with them, the capacity to produce an impressive pantheon of powerful, new oak-aged, quite expensive reds that faithfully represent the diversity of top Côte de Nuits terroirs. There are no premier cru or grand cru vineyards in Marsannay, which is part of the reason the Bart wines are so affordable. The region became a village-level commune in 1987 and is known for its beautiful rosés and fresh, drinkable reds. We love Marsannay for its classic Burgundian character—lots of cranberry and tart cherry with foresty notes—and its simple charm. The Bart wines, for example, offer tremendous regional character for very reasonable prices. The village of Fixin, which is just south of Marsannay, does have a few premier cru vineyard sites and Bart also has premier cru property there. Bart's "Les Hervelets" holdings actually stem from an older Domaine once known as Claire-Daü that was split between Bart and Bruno Clair in 1985. Claire-Daü was once the premier producer in the region and the quality of its wines is much of the reason Marsannay gained village-level status. We like to think of wines like the Bart "Les Hervelets" as great short-term cellar candidates, wines that will improve greatly in the three to the five-year window as the tannins soften up a bit and the acidity unwinds. "Les Hervelets" is known for producing wines that are a bit softer and more feminine than other vineyards in the region.