2011 Domaine Bart Chambertin Clos de Beze

Domaine Bart is in Marsannay. Martin Bart manages this family-owned estate of 38 acres in Marsannay and Fixin along with his nephew Pierre Bart and Pierre’s mother, who is Martin’s sister. Martin is related to Bruno Clair, so his vigneron talents come partly from the family genes. Martin’s parents bought the estate he now runs in 1968, and the family has been producing red, white and rosé wines ever since. Domaine Bart makes Grand Cru, Premier Cru and villages wines. Burghound.com has often rated the reds in the low to mid-90s.

Chambertin Clos-de-Beze is a Grand Cru vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin, and its history goes back to the 7th century when it was owned by the monks of the Abbey of Beze. After the French Revolution the Catholic Church was forced to divide the vineyard among peasants. Today it is a 38-acre vineyard, making it slightly larger than Chambertin. Chambertin and Chambertin Clos-de-Beze are adjacent and share similar limestone, clay and gravel soils. Of the 18 proprietors, the largest by acreage are Pierre Damoy, 13.4 acres; Armand Rousseau, 3.5 acres; and Drouhin-Laroze, 3.48 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.