Product Information:
Pure crystalline fruit showing great style and restraint with good generosity for their entry level wine. This is a blend of all the lieu-dits (special sites) in 2021, though all vinified separately. The average age of the vines are at least 40 years-old, coming from 3 parcels of vines planted in the 1960’s and early 1990’s located in Le Chene, Les Masures and La Bergerie. Just one barrel made making it something of a rarity.
This is an assemblage all the lieu-dits this year in 2021, though all vinified separately. From 3 parcels of vines 1960’s and early 1990’s old located in Le Chene, Les Masures and La Bergerie. Pure crystalline fruit showing great style and restraint with good generosity for AC level. Average is at least 40 years-old. New vines en-fermage in this vintage.
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 - Red Apple, Lime, Crush Stone
From three lieux-dits, the 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Chambrées has a tightly-wound bouquet with red apple, lime and crushed stone.
Palate - Intense, Weighty, Keen Acidity
The palate is quite intense and weighty in the mouth, rounded like a Meursault yet counterbalanced by a keen line of acidity.
Finish - Mineral, Lime Juice, Focused Finish.
A fresh mineral finish, a little lime juice, and some length.
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.
From three lieux-dits, the 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Chambrées has a tightly-wound bouquet with red apple, lime and crushed stone. The palate is quite intense and weighty in the mouth, rounded like a Meursault yet counterbalanced by a keen line of acidity that maintains focus on the finish. I can imagine this being approachable in its youth. - Neal Martin, Vinous.
Pale lemon and lime. A slightly smudged nose, showing a little barrel. White fruit with a fresh mineral finish, a little lime juice, and some length. Drink from 2024-2027 - Burghound.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
