2022 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot

The Burgundian Morey wine family is widely branched, with deep roots in Chassagne-Montrachet, a small, picturesque village 15 km south of Beaune. The Marc Morey domain is managed by Bernard Mollard, Marc Morey's son-in-law. Bernard Mollard is a passionate wine man, with an extra sense for quality. Winemaker Bernard and Sabine Mollard is a specialist in making terroir-type Burgundies such as those from Saint-Aubin, Chasssagne-Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet in various gradations. Respect for the terroir is the key word for Marc Morey. The vines are pruned for optimal yields. The soil is cultivated all year round. For several years now, the estate has been located in Chassagne Montrachet near Beaune in the Côte-d'Or department.

This Chassagne-Montrachet En Virondot 1er Cru is a 100% Chardonnay coming from a vineyard located on a clay-limestone soil. After manual picking, alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks under strict temperature control. The young wine is then transferred to 1-year-old oak barrels where it lies in its own sediment until the end of the malolactic fermentation, with regular 'bâtonnage' (stirring) of the 'groin'. This strengthens the mineral character of the wine and gives it more structure and creaminess. After 10 months, the wine is drained, clarified and (depending on the vintage) lightly filtered before bottling. For this 1er Cru Chassagne-Montrachet 'En Virondot', grapes from the domain are used, originating from 30-35 year old vines on limestone soil. The Chassagne-Montrachet appellation is located in the Côte de Beaune.

The Chassagne-Montrachet En Virondot 1er Cru 2021 has a delicious, precise bouquet with yellow flowers and light limestone scents, with a hint of blackberry leaves. It has an intense nose, ripe, fruity and mineral, with a hint of butter and vanilla and well-integrated wood nuances. The taste is well balanced with candied orange peel at the attack and the typical limestone terroir expression. On the tongue all purity, minerality, delicate fresh taste, balanced structure, with a complex, persistent mineral finish. Delicious with grilled, firm fish (turbot, pike-perch), seafood, white meat or white (Bresse) poultry in rich creamy white wine sauce, grilled lobster or spiny lobster, crispy fried veal sweetbreads. For those who do not want to drink 'sticky' wine with their (fried) fattened foie gras, this wine is a relief.