Product Information:
This wine is sourced from vines planted in 1999 in the middle part of this 1er cru. It's fine delicate aromas show good intensity and depth on the palate. Very promising, give it time to unfurl.
Les Grèves is among the largest of 44 Premier Cru climats in the Burgundian appellation Beaune. This 31.3-hectare site is planted mostly to Pinot Noir, making full-bodied reds as well as rarer spicy, nutty white wines made from Chardonnay.
The Morey family name is one of the more infamous in Burgundy, with a long and expansive history. Caroline Morey is the daughter of the well-known Jean-Marc Morey, and started her own domaine after Jean-Marc's retirement in 2014. She is also married to Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey. Stylistically one major difference compared to PYCM is that she uses slightly less new oak, around 20-25% instead of 30-35%, not to mention half-a-dozen reds.
Maker:
Since Jean-Marc's retirement in 2014, Caroline has taken her share of some family vineyards from her father Jean-Marc and has created her own domaine based in Chassagne-Montrachet working out of brand new cellars built for Caroline and her husband Pierre-Yves.
For Caroline’s first vintage in 2014 she had small holdings in Chassagne-Montrachet for both red and white together with small holdings in Santenay and Hautes Cotes de Beaune totaling just 2.4 hectares. With more vineyards added both from family and from acquisitions in the last few years the total is now 7 hectares for Caroline. Her family holdings were roughly half for red wines and half for white wines, so Caroline has always been very comfortable vinifying red wines and is clearly adept with whites as well. For her own estate her holdings are about 35% Pinot Noir and 65% Chardonnay.
Philosophy:
Caroline’s approach in the cellar shows a similar light touch as her husband using mostly 350 litre barrels with no more than 30% new and with no battonage for the white wines. For the red wines she adapts to each site and each vintage with no ‘recipe’ as such save to say that Caroline favours a little whole bunch when possible but never more than 50% which she considers too much. Now settled into the new cellars and with 5 vintages released it is clear that Caroline has moved straight into the premier tier of producers in the Cote de Beaune as she has rapidly established her very small and very fine estate. With just a few barrels produced of most wines these will be difficult to come by.
Beginning with hand harvests and natural yeast ferment of whole bunches for all whites and 25% to 40% whole bunches for red wines. Ageing mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring of up 14 months for red wines and up to 18 months for top whites. Very gentle pumping over and handling for red wines designed to maximise freshness and finesse. Long untreated corks for all wines and bottles sealed with wax.
Nose - Flinty Reduction, Orange Rind, Peach
Reductive and finessed. Citrus lemon and lime, orange rind and light peach.
Palate - Medium Weight, Chiseled, Intense
Markedly intense and well-detailed medium weight flavors that also conclude in a bone-dry, youthfully austere and chiseled finish that is just a bit finer.
Finish - Fine, Fresh Citrus, Peach
Very nicely persistent, with some nuance of fresh citrus.
Just one barrel made, malolactic done. Clear pale colour. A reductive quality, though with finesse. I like the balance of this though I still wonder why it was planted to chardonnay. Very nicely persistent, with some nuance of fresh citrus. Drink from 2024-2028. - Jasper Morris M.W., Inside Burgundy, October 2022, 90-92 Points.
Here there is sufficient reduction present to mask everything but a hint of citrus character. There is slightly better volume to the markedly intense and well-detailed medium weight flavors that also conclude in a bone-dry, youthfully austere and chiseled finish that is just a bit finer. - Burghound.
The 2021 Beaune Blanc Grèves 1er Cru has an understated nose, backward and just thinking of what to say at the moment because here the malo was particularly tardy. The palate is more expressive with citrus lemon and lime, orange rind and light peach notes on the finish. Fine. - Vinous.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
