Product Information:
Located just below Santenay Le Haut not far from 1er cru Maladieres. In the Santenay vineyard it is very clear how much limestone terroir peaks through and so it's no surprise growers are flocking to the region to plant Chardonnay in these sites once again. This wine shows very fine ripe orchard fruits even showing a touch exotic. The palate is well balanced with a precise level of acidity, the power from its clay soils driving the finish along.
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 - Lemon Scented, Apple Blossom, White Peach
The 2021 Santenay Cornières has an attractive bouquet with apple blossom, hints of apricot and white peach that gains intensity with aeration.
Palate - White Peach, Apricot, Intense
The palate is well balanced with a precise level of acidity, the power from its clay soils driving the finish along.
Finish - Austere, Rustic, Toast
Youthfully austere and lingering finish where a touch of rusticity slowly emerges.
A very fresh nose offers up prominent aromas of petrol and spice that are trimmed in subtle oak nuances. The succulent and supple middleweight flavors exude a discreet bead of minerality that imparts a sense of lift to the bone-dry, youthfully austere and lingering finish where a touch of rusticity slowly emerges. This could use better depth so 5 to 8 years of keeping should prove helpful in that regard. - Burghound.
The 2021 Santenay Cornières has an attractive bouquet with apple blossom, hints of apricot and white peach that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a precise level of acidity, the power from its clay soils driving the finish along. A pleasant rondeur here. -Vinous
Pale lemon colour with a green tint. Two barrels only of which one new. The oak does play a part in the bouquet. Otherwise, clean and lemon scented. Quite tightly knit with a faint reduction. Still quite some acidity, though this has calmed down since malolactic fermentation. Drink from 2024-2027. - Jasper Morris M.W., Inside Burgundy, October 2022
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
