Product Information:
This is a blend of multiple lieux-dits - Champgains and Vergers with a smidge of Caillerets and Chaumées. The first two managed a good half crop after successful protection. Clear pale colour, the nose suggests fair weight without giving detail. Really very pretty on the nose, crisp limestone style, slightly saline, fresh and persistent. The ’21s are a return to classical Burgundies, as acidity, balance, detail, and complexity. At their best they are transparent, crunchy, delicate, and with beautiful balance. The low yields which resulted from the April frost have in many cases saved the day, and the intensity of the vintage. There's fragility to the 2021s that makes them charmingly lively and nervy.
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 - Crisp, Crystalline Fruits, Chalky
Soft wood sets off slightly riper though not exotic aromas of white peach, petrol and citrus confit.
Palate - Sappy, Medium Weight, Orchard Fruits.
There is excellent density to the sappy and palate saturating medium weight flavors that are both denser and possess a more sophisticated mouthfeel.
Finish - Persistent, Orange Rind Notes, Sea-Shells
Good weight and concentration here with quite a persistent and convincing finish. Good potential.
A blend of Champgains and Vergers with a bare smidgin of Caillerets and Chaumées. The first two managed a good half crop after successful protection. Clear pale colour, the nose suggests fair weight without giving detail. Really very pretty on the nose, crisp limestone style, slightly saline, fresh and persistent. Drink from 2025-2030. - Jasper Morris, Oct. 2022
The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru is almost entirely from Champs Gain and Vergers. It has a clean and precise bouquet, quite focused, not powerful but nicely delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that frame orchard fruit, bitter lemon and orange rind notes. Good weight and concentration here with quite a persistent and convincing finish. Good potential. - Near Martin, Vinous.
From Champ Gains and Les Vergers. Soft wood sets off slightly riper though not exotic aromas of white peach, petrol and citrus confit. There is excellent density to the sappy and palate saturating medium weight flavors that are both denser and possess a more sophisticated mouthfeel while delivering fine length on the balanced finale where the wood expressed by the nose re-emerges. Lovely with very good cellaring potential. Outstanding. - Burghound.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
