2020 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets
Region: Burgundy, France
Grape: Chardonnay
Culinary Suggestions: Grilled Lobster, Garlic Prawns, Salmon
Vineyard Practice: Sustainable
About
We first came across the wines of Domaine Marc Morey & Fils in the late 90s, and when we took the leap to start importing in 2009 we made a beeline for the domaine. The property has over one hundred years of history, established in 1919 by Fernand Morey after his return from the First World War. The domaine was one of the first to begin bottling and selling its own wine in the 1930’s, instead of selling to négociants, a move considered revolutionary at the time. The property has stayed in the family since with generations expanding the vineyard and renaming it Domaine Marc Morey et Fils in 1977.
Today the domaine rests in the capable hands of Sabine Mollard, Marc Morey’s granddaughter. She undertook an apprentice under her father before becoming winemaker in 2006. In 2014 she won the prestigious trophy for Best Young Viticulteur from the Côte de Beaune, as judged by her peers in the annual Groupe des Jeunes Professionnels de la Vigne awards.
The pure, yet concentrated style of the domaine is why we have always been drawn to them. Here they work with limited (25%) new oak, severely restricted yields and a desire to express their vineyards’ personality, rather than to impart their own. Hand-picked grapes are sorted and whole bunch pressed straight into temperature-controlled tanks where fermentation begins. Roughly halfway through the ferment, the liquid is run to barrel where it completes its fermentation. Here it undergoes malolactic fermentation and battonage (stirring of lees), before maturing on fine lees for 12 – 18 months.
The result is a range of Chassagnes that display their terroir with great transparency, backed by laser-like purity and mineral expression. With just the right amount of complexing artefact and an inherent richness from the natural concentration of low yields and old vines; the wines offer enjoyment when young. However, they are also structured and balanced enough to live for 20+ years at Premier Cru level. We have bottles to prove it! If you love mineral loaded terroir-driven white burgundy and haven’t tried these wines yet then don’t delay. Arguably amongst the finest bottles produced in Chassagne today. - Importer Note
Tasting Notes
A cool, restrained and elegant nose features notes of white flowers, pear essence, spice and a whiff of dried apricot. There is excellent volume to the succulent but intense and palate coating flavors that exude evident minerality on the beautifully long finale. Like the Morgeot, this could also use better depth, but more should develop if held for a few years first.
92 points - Allen Meadows, Burghound.com June 2022
Drink: 2028+
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru has fine tension on the nose that is a tad more reserved and stonier than Morey’s other cuvées this year, those limestone soils percolating through the citrus fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant, quite concentrated with good density towards the finish. Disarming in terms of purity, this Chassagne comes highly recommended.
(92-94) points - Neal Martin, Vinous Media October 2021
Drink: 2024 - 2040