Mommessin

Sylvain Pitiot, régisseur (resident manager) of Clos de Tart, told me that "2009 is a lot like 2005 in the sense that there really wasn't all that much to do. There was some early season hail damage right at the top of the vineyard but in a sense it was a blessing because despite the fact that we lost some yield, which I estimate at around 4 hl/ha, the stressed vines produced very tiny berries that gave us some additional concentration. We also did a green harvest with the rest of the vineyard and unlike some, our overall yields were actually relatively small, which is to say around 26 hl/ha. In fact, we were probably among the very few domaines that actually had lower yields in 2009 than in 2008 where we realized about 29 hl/ha. We waited until the 18th of September to begin picking and brought in exceptionally clean fruit that averaged 13.7% in terms of potential alcohol. It's clear that the raw materials were superb and while they perhaps weren't quite as uniform as 2005 for those who didn't control their yields, here at Clos de Tart I really couldn't discern much of a difference. I think that the '09 really has magnificent potential and will ultimately be as fine as the 2005." As usual, the vinification was divided into seven different cuvées that may or may not be included in the final blend but the review below is based on what Pitiot believes will be reasonably representative of the '09 Clos de Tart. Further, some of the cuvées were destemmed completely and some not at all. Pitiot believes that the '09 will have about 50% whole cluster in it. BURGHOUND