DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY - MOREY BLANC 2020 VINTAGE EN PRIMEUR
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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.
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Pierre Morey 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.
Today it is Pierre’s daughter, Anne Morey, who runs the day-to-day life of the domaine, whilst Pierre remains co-manager. In addition, Anne’s son, Jean Victor Morey, joined the estate in the 2020 vintage. There are now therefore three generations to, in Anne’s words, “together watch over the vines and the wines.”
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THE 2020 VINTAGE, IN THE WORDS OF ANNE MOREY
“A year unlike any other, but happily it has produced a beautiful vintage in the classic Burgundian style.”
ANNE MOREY, NOVEMBER 2021
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The 2019-2020 winter was particularly mild with only three small incidences of frost (once in December, twice in January) and no snow. The rain levels were good from winter’s third trimester through March, replenishing the soil’s water reserves before the dry months of April, June and August. (it rained less than 50 mm from 16th June through 31st August).
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While us humans were confined indoors, the vegetation flourished heartily. The hillsides were bathed in sunlight from 12th March, pushing the vines to grow rapidly. It was undoubtedly one of the earliest growing seasons we have ever seen. We had several frost scares when chilly nights did return (25th March, 1st and 2nd April) requiring constant vigilance as the chardonnay’s advanced burgeoning and leaf growth made it particularly susceptible to damage. Come May, the beautiful weather returned, allowing us to work the soils in perfect conditions, with no disease pressure whatsoever.
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The early budburst meant an early start to flowering, with the first instances beginning on 12th May in the most sheltered chardonnay sites. Flowering was in full swing on 20th May, with the process completed only a week later (and still in May!)
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An August harvest looked to be on the horizon. The advanced vegetative schedule kept pace through the dry, warm summer, with only a few potential spots of oidium to monitor as we prepared for harvest. From 24th to 31st August, we brought in the entire production – the first time ever that we have finished the harvest before the beginning of September.
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With ideal ripening, excellent acidity and a dominance of tartaric acid, the magnificent grapes came in in perfect sanitary condition, under the shining sun – everything was lined up to produce a grand vintage! And with an excellent team of harvesters to boot!
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Even the most demanding of winemakers couldn’t ask for more. 2020 is certainly a year unlike any other, but happily it has produced a beautiful vintage in the classic Burgundian style.
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THE WINES
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WHITE
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This 2020 release is our fourth Morey vintage. The wines are a great success in 2020 and given the small 2021 Burgundy vintage waiting in the wings, there is absolutely no reason to rein in your enthusiasm here!
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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. Aromas of green apples, white flowers and pears. The palate is very pure and open, with ripe orchard fruit and stony minerality.
Corney & Barrow Score 16.5
Recommended drinking from 2023–2026
£79 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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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. Bright orchard fruit aromas. Vivacious and driving on the palate, whose beautiful purity and texture point to a wine punching above its weight – this is a personal favourite.
Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2023–2026
£140 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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SAINT-ROMAIN SOUS LE CHÂTEAU MOREY-BLANC
One of the most renowned climats of this pretty village in the hills above Meursault. Pure white pear and peach aromas, with a bite of smoky minerality. The palate is immediate and crunchy, with the stony minerality and taut acidity of Saint-Romain.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2023–2027
£235 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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MEURSAULT CLOS LE MEIX TAVAUX DOMAINE MOREY
This is a 0.29 hectare parcel, planted in 1985. 2020 is only the second vintage produced by the domaine, Anne Morey having bought this recently. Le Meix Tavaux is a gently sloping site in the heart of the village, with rocky, well-drained soils which dry very quickly. Very fine white peach and flinty mineral aromas. The palate reveals a wonderfully no-makeup style of Meursault, with ripe, supple pear and peach fruit. In organic conversion.
Corney & Barrow Score 17 – 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2023–2028
£425 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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MEURSAULT LES TERRES BLANCHES DOMAINE MOREY
A 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. A bright, ripe nose of fine white stone-fruit. The palate is vivacious and stony-mineral, with a cool focus and a fine textured bite to the finish.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2024–2029
£425 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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MEURSAULT LES TESSONS DOMAINE MOREY
This stony, 0.89 hectare plot, planted in 1978, lies above Meursault, at mid-slope. Tessons tends to be a wine of shape and terroir. A fine, reticent nose of white flowers and peach leads into a more expressive palate of stony minerality and chalky tension. The acidity is steely, lending a clipped precision. This is a wine for the long term, fabulous!
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5
Recommended drinking from 2024–2029
£495 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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MEURSAULT 1ER CRU LES PERRIÈRES DOMAINE MOREY
This stony, sunny 0.52 hectare plot, close to the border with Puligny-Montrachet, was planted in 1985. It benefits from reflected heat from the warm, chalky soils. Flinty, stony aromas announce Perrières, one of the icons of the domaine. The palate revels in dry extract and fruit, with a marked textural bite on the finish. A statuesque wine of tannin and bite.
Corney & Barrow Score 19
Recommended drinking from 2025–2032
£850 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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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. Stony-mineral, with a honeysuckle richness and an apricot-laden, peachy, tactile palate. This has the chalky definition of Champ Gain beside a beautiful richness and ripeness.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5
Recommended drinking from 2025–2032
£850 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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RED
This 2020 release is our fourth Morey vintage. The wines are a great success in 2020 and given the small 2021 Burgundy vintage waiting in the wings, there is absolutely no reason to rein in your enthusiasm here!
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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. Tasted in November 2021, following racking in October. Bright, ripe raspberry aromas, which carry through effortlessly to the palate. Juicy and delectable, with supple tannins. This is certified organic.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2023–2027
£195 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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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 was not ready for tasting at the time of our visit.
£375 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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VOLNAY 1ER CRU PITURES MOREY-BLANC
2020 is the third vintage of Pitures, a vineyard which borders Pommard and Marquis d’Angerville’s Clos des Ducs. Domaine Lafarge also has a holding here. Rose petal aromas and wild strawberries. The tannins are fine and beautifully fruit-coated, very Volnay, very elegant.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2026–2033
£395 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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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.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2026–2033
£495 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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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. Perfumed rose petals and delicate wild strawberry aromas. The palate is wonderfully pure, with a frisson of stony mineral tension.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 -18
Recommended drinking from 2026–2034
£495 / Case of 6 Bottles, in bond UK
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