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Like the Morey, this comes from within Clos de Tart and could, therefore, be labelled Grand Cru. The domaine declassifies it to 1er Cru status to ensure only the very finest parcels make it into the Grand Vin. La Forge ultimately comes from young vines (though older than the village bottling) and/or parcels that don’t quite fit in the Grand Cru blend. Keep in mind that the batches must still be exceptional to make the cut for this wine—any that do not meet the domaine’s exacting standards are sold off as bulk wine to a négociant or end up in the village wine. As a result, this is nearly always a wine that is better than many a Grand Cru from the Côte.
In addition to the three parcels used for the 2020 La Forge (namely the eponymous La Forge parcel, Ballonge 2, and Plantation 2011), the 2022 release also includes declassified fruit from Jeanniard and Plantation 2005, both mid-slope on the Bonnes Mares side of the clos. Noli said these parcels came within a hair’s breadth of making it into the Grand Cru, but he ultimately erred on the side of caution. Traditionally, this cuvée has been fully destemmed and raised with a high percentage of new oak; however, searching for complexity and purer fruit expression, Noli has introduced a portion of whole bunches—25% in all—and dialled back the use of new oak to 45% (from roughly 80% under the previous regime). As the notes below suggest, 2022 Forge de Tart is quite outstanding. Concentrated yet equally perfumed and fine. It is certainly a wine that will merit long term aging.