Domaine Pierre Morey - Morey Blanc 2021

Wine Region

10 hectares

Vineyard

Côte de Beaune, France

Father-and-daughter team Pierre and Anne Morey take the domaine into its second half-century in fine form. They have been joined from the 2020 vintage by the third generation, Anne’s son, Jean-Victor Morey.

Our relationship with Pierre Morey dates back to his 20-year tenure as Régisseur of Domaine Leflaive, from 1988 to 2008. The ‘Morey era’ includes some legendary Leflaive vintages. Pierre combined his position in Puligny-Montrachet with running the family estate in Meursault. It is no coincidence that certain milestones were reached concurrently at both domaines, such as turning biodynamic in 1997.

Domaine Pierre Morey’s ten hectares span the villages of Monthelie, Pommard, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, where the domaine is based. In addition, the family has access to some choice parcels which are vinified identically at the domaine and bottled under the négociant label, Maison Morey-Blanc, established in 1992. Around half of the production here is Chardonnay, the remainder being Aligoté and Pinot Noir.

2021 is our fifth Morey vintage since beginning as exclusive UK & Singapore agent. Other than the Aligoté, the frost-affected 2021 quantities are predictably tiny – your understanding is appreciated, and if you are not able to secure everything you would like, rest assured that 2022 here will be more generous.

GUY SEDDON
HEAD OF FINE WINE BUYING
April 2023

The 2020-2021 season began gently, the final months of 2020 being quite dry, though happily the month of October was sufficiently humid to refill the soil's water reserves.

January, though not excessively cold, saw sub-zero temperatures each morning, allowing the soils to naturally prepare themselves under ideal conditions. February and March were both rather dry.

The final days of March and the beginning of April were particularly warm, with afternoon temperatures rising above 20°C, causing an early and rapid budbreak, especially for the Chardonnay vines. Sadly, the following week, 5^th-8^th April, we had four consecutive nights of freezing temperatures. Despite doing everything humanly possible to prepare for this threat, the losses were considerable: frost and snow on the young buds and leaves inevitably caused irreversible damage.

The vines needed time to restart their vegetative growth, having suffered such a shock and seeming reluctant to begin again. The season was only just getting underway. May was very rainy (110mm in 18 days), and temperatures refused to rise, resembling those we had seen in April.

These conditions caused flowering to occur later than in previous years, with the process halfway to completion by 18^th-20^th June, just as a new week-long rain spell hit (June saw 15 days of rain out of 30...) July followed suit with 13 days of rain, though thankfully they were interspersed with a few days of clear skies. Things finally began looking up as August arrived, with four full weeks of sun, ideal conditions for bringing the surviving grapes to maturity.

Harvest took place from 16^th to 24^th September (versus 25^th August to 2^nd September in 2022), finishing just before the rains of the equinox. Volumes are very low, particularly for the Chardonnay but also the Pinot Noir. Nevertheless, the beautiful balance in the 2021s would have been difficult to achieve with a full crop – and with that, we are very satisfied.

WHITE WINES

This 2021 release is our fifth Morey vintage. Due to the small quantities in 2021, some wines have not been tasted.

BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ DOMAINE MOREY

This old vine Aligoté is from a 1.86 hectare plot of vines in Meursault, planted in 1969 and owned by the domaine. This was the only wine already in bottle when we tasted in November 2022, having been bottled in August. Orchard fruit and bitter almond aromas. The palate’s crunchy green apple fruit is sustained by fresh acidity and a salty-mineral, textured, apple skin finish. As Aligoté is a later-developing variety, this escaped the worst of the frost.

Corney & Barrow Score 17
Recommended drinking from 2024-2027
£105 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BOURGOGNE CÔTE D’OR DOMAINE MOREY

Planted on average in 1984, this comes from 1.76 hectares of vines in Meursault, from deep clay and chalk soils. This wine is always a favourite, far surpassing its regional status whilst offering a window into the estate’s signature style. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2024-2027
£180 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

SAINT-ROMAIN SOUS LE CHÂTEAU MOREY-BLANC

One of the most renowned and sizeable climats of this pretty village in the hills above Meursault. First produced in 2018, Sous Le Château’s soils are a mixture of marl and chalk whose wines tend to showcase the hallmark freshness and vitality of Saint-Romain. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2024-2028
£275 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT CLOS LE MEIX TAVAUX DOMAINE MOREY

This is a 0.29 hectare parcel, planted in 1985. 2021 is the third vintage of this recently acquired climat. Le Meix Tavaux is a gently sloping site in the heart of the village, with rocky, well-drained soils which dry very quickly. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021. In organic conversion.

Recommended drinking from 2024-2029
£495 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT LES TERRES BLANCHES DOMAINE MOREY

0.4 hectare plot, planted in 1989. This lieu-dit lies just below premier cru Les Gouttes d'Or and beside Domaine Jacques Prieur’s Clos de Mazeray. Its name reflects the shallowness and chalkiness of the soil. The first vintage was 2006. This comes flying out of the glass, with bright aromas of apricot, peach, apple and pear. Yellow flowers and juicy peach fruit on the palate, very open.

Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2025-2030
£495 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT LES TESSONS DOMAINE MOREY

This stony, 0.89 hectare plot, planted in 1978, lies above Meursault, at mid-slope. Positioned at the same altitude as the premiers crus, Tessons tends to produce wines of shape and terroir. A meagre 30cm of soil, with rock beneath give the wines mineral tension and longevity. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2025-2030
£575 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU LES PERRIÈRES DOMAINE MOREY

This stony, sunny 0.52 hectare plot, located within the lieu-dit “Perrières Dessous” lies close to the village’s southern border, just next to Puligny-Montrachet. Planted in 1985, it is a small clos (walled vineyard) and benefits from reflected heat from the warm, chalky soils. Perrières is one of the icons of the domaine, producing concentrated wines of substance. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2026-2033
£950 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU CHAMP GAIN DOMAINE MOREY

Made since 2017, the domaine’s Champ Gain comes from just 0.17 hectares of this stony high-slope premier cru, planted with 40+ year-old vines. Aromas of fine crushed rock minerality, very classical. The palate is flinty and strict, with supple pear and peach fruit and a seam of lime zest. Chalky grip on the finish. There were terrible losses to frost here: less than one barrel was made, of the usual 2.5 to 3.

Recommended drinking from 2026-2033
£950 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

BÂTARD-MONTRACHET GRAND CRU DOMAINE MOREY

The domaine has a 0.49 hectare holding in Bâtard-Montrachet’s renowned Clos Poirier, adjacent to Le Montrachet. The oldest vines date from 1965, with the average year of planting being 1992. The rich, well-drained clay soils here are relatively shallow. This tends to be a complex, full bodied wine which mirrors the richness of its terroir. The family produces this domaine bottling and, since 2011, a second Bâtard-Montrachet from the neighbouring plot, bottled under the Morey-Blanc label. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2027-2039
£1,975 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

RED WINES

This 2021 release is our fifth Morey vintage. Due to the small quantities in 2021, some wines have not been tasted.

MONTHELIE DOMAINE MOREY

This wine comes from six lieux-dits in the heart of the appellation, surrounding the village. The domaine owns 1.32 hectares of old vines here, planted on average in 1965. Bitter cherry aromas, leading into a ripe palate of blackberry and raspberry, with a charming sucrosity and supple, fruit-coated tannins. This is certified organic.

Corney & Barrow Score 17
Recommended drinking from 2024-2028
£235 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

ALOXE-CORTON 1ER CRU LES VERCOTS MOREY-BLANC

Les Vercots lies between the Route Nationale and the back-road to Pernand-Vergelesses, south of the hill of Corton. This tends to be a more powerful style of red, but 2021 rather bucks the trend. Peppery spices and cool dark berry fruit, with a crunchy definition and fine, chalky tannins. A lovely lightness of touch here.

Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2024-2030
£435 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

VOLNAY 1ER CRU PITURES MOREY-BLANC

2021 is the fourth vintage of Pitures, a mid-slope vineyard which borders Pommard and Marquis d’Angerville’s Clos des Ducs. Domaine Lafarge also has a holding here. Quintessential Volnay, Peony and Violets typically soaring from the glass. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2027-2034
£450 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

VOLNAY 1ER CRU SANTENOTS DOMAINE MOREY

This is from a 0.35 hectare parcel, located in the lieu-dit Les Pétures and planted in 1974. It is in fact in Meursault, in the intersection from which reds can be labelled as Volnay. Located at mid-slope, with shallow, friable red soils. From 1999 to 2003, this was produced under the Morey-Blanc label. Acquired by the domaine in 2003, it has borne the domaine’s label since 2004, the first biodynamic vintage. Deep ruby colour. Fine smoky-redcurrant aromas. The palate is wonderfully rich and pliant, with a textured sense of terroir.

Recommended drinking from 2027-2034
£565 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

POMMARD 1ER CRU GRANDS ÉPENOTS DOMAINE MOREY

The most delicate and refined of Pommards, which Anne Morey describes as “a beautiful vineyard”. The domaine has a 0.43 hectare holding, at mid-slope, planted in 1965. The limestone is close to the surface, with red soils above. Since 2012 there has been a petition for Grands Épenots to be upgraded to Grand Cru. Not tasted due to the small quantities in 2021.

Recommended drinking from 2027-2035
£575 / case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY MOREY-BLANCBurgundy

THE 2021 VINTAGE, IN THE WORDS OF ANNE MOREY

WHITE WINES

RED WINES

In-Bond / Retail products