Domaine Pierre Morey-Blanc En Primeur 2019

DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY MOREY-BLANC 2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR EXCLUSIVE TO CORNEY & BARROW IN THE UK AND SINGAPORE

“In recent months, we have had the opportunity to see how important conviviality and sharing are and how opening a beautiful bottle of wine can rejoice the heart of man!”

ANNE MOREY, December 2020

DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

PIERRE MOREY

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ANNE MOREY

JEAN - VICTOR MOREY

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INTRODUCTION We were over the moon to be appointed the UK and Singapore agent for Domaine Pierre Morey and Maison Morey-Blanc in 2019.

Last February, we offered the 2017 and 2018 vintages together, making this 2019 release our third vintage in a rather short space of time.

Despite this apparent speed, our relationship with Pierre Morey dates back to his 20 year tenure as régisseur of Domaine Leflaive, from 1988 to 2008. An era which includes some of the greatest Leflaive vintages.

Pierre Morey combined his position at Domaine Leflaive with running the family domaine. 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.”

GUY SEDDON July 2021

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

HISTORY The Morey family dates back to at least the sixteenth century in Burgundy and has been present in Meursault since 1793.

Auguste Morey, Pierre’s father and Anne’s grandfather, started as a share-cropper for Domaine des Comte Lafon, in 1935. During this time of economic hardship, the entire 14 hectare Comte Lafon estate was divided between nine share-croppers.*

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Pierre established Domaine Pierre Morey in 1971, producing his own wines alongside those of his father. In 1984, the Lafon family decided gradually to retake control of their vineyards.

From 1988 to July 2008, Pierre Morey was régisseur of Domaine Leflaive. As mentioned, Corney & Barrow’s first contact with him was at this time. During this period, Pierre also oversaw his own domaine and his nascent négociant-éleveur activity.

From 1991, Pierre started using organic agricultural principles, along with some biodynamic preparations in the vineyards. The domaine became 100% biodynamic in 1997, the same year that Domaine Leflaive converted to biodynamics.

Pierre’s daugther Anne Morey co-manages the domaine and is now its driving force. * Under this arrangement, those working the land received a share of the crop.

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

VITICULTURE The domaine owns 10 hectares of vines. As well as its home village of Meursault, it has holdings in Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard and Monthélie.

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Biodynamics has, for over 20 years, informed all viticultural decisions at the domaine. Anne Morey speaks of “respect for the vineyards” as central to the approach here. Soil aeration and composting encourage the development of the soils’ microbial life, improving the health of the vines and bolstering their resistance to parasites and diseases. The approach is as hands-off as possible: only very low doses of natural products are used.

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CELLAR The wines are made in the domaine’s wonderful old, vaulted underground cellars. Winemaking is protective, with 100% destemming of the reds.

White wines After hand-harvesting, the grapes are sorted (as pictured here) and lightly crushed before being pressed. The must is then racked into tank for 1224 hours, during which a light débourbage (settling) is done while retaining the fine lees, which are the main source of nourishment for the (all-natural) yeast.

The juice is then transferred to oak barrels where the alcoholic fermentation takes place. After fermentation, the wine is punched-down two or three times a week until around Christmas.

The wines remain in barrel until the following autumn, when they are racked and then returned to their lees.

Fining is very light. Depending on the vintage, the wines may or may not be given a light filtration.

Maturation of the Chardonnays lasts, depending on the vintage, from 16 to 20 months. Bottling is done by gravity.

Red wines The grapes are hand-harvested then sorted, followed by 100% destemming and transfer to large oak vats. Fermentation, without addition of yeasts, begins after a few days. Light punchdowns and pump-overs are performed.

The temperature is controlled during fermentation, cool at first to encourage colour and tannin extraction, then warmer towards the end. The wine is then transferred to oak barrels.

Wines are aged for 15 to 20 months. Bottling is done by gravity after blending, usually without fining or filtration.

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

THE 2019 VINTAGE “The 2019 harvest is an elegant marriage between depth (this is a hot and dry vintage) and vitality (excellent acidity giving a nice balance to the wines).

The wines have incredible personality.”

ANNE MOREY, December 2020

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Winter was dry and mild, “only -4°C at its coldest”, as Anne Morey related it, and without snow until December.

January was slightly more humid, though not enough to fully replenish the soil water reserves, with February once again dry. Rain was limited until June and once again from July to September. This allowed the domaine to work the soils in excellent conditions.

Vegetative growth started quite early but slowed around mid-April, with two worrying spells of frost, on 14th-15th April and 4th-5th May. These caused some losses in the Chardonnay. The cold and cloudy weather gave way to more favorable conditions in mid-May, although growth remained behind average. By the end of spring, the season was among the latest years of the 21st century, with no real disease pressure.

Flowering began on 3rd June and reached its midway point around 15th June. The second half of June was dry and hot, accelerating the Pinot Noir’s development and allowing it to catch up with the Chardonnay, as is often the case at this stage.

Flowering finished on 25th June, pointing to a harvest starting around 10th September. The drawn-out flowering period caused some losses from coulure (shot berries), particularly in the Chardonnay. Vigilance was needed, as several cool, humid nights lead to some powdery mildew.

The grapes developed quickly, reaching their full size around 10th July. The rest of the summer was dry, sunny, and hot, with heatwaves (above 35°C) from 26th-30th June and 23rd-27th July. The sun and heat continued throughout harvest, which ran from 12th to 20th September. The grapes ripe and healthy, with very good acidity.

Anne summed up the season as, “Yet another vintage showing exquisite aromatics since the start of fermentation. Some patience will surely be required to allow the pronounced character of the growing season to settle and allow the full expression of terroir to emerge.”

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

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ANNE MOREY

DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

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2019 VINTAGE TASTING NOTES WHITE WINES BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ DOMAINE MOREY

SAINT-ROMAIN SOUS LE CHÂTEAU MOREY-BLANC

An old vine Aligoté, planted in 1969. This comes from 1.86 hectares of domaine-owned vines in Meursault. Aromas of crunchy green apples, pears and hay. The palate is zippy and precise, the ripe orchard fruit working nicely with wet-stone minerality and taut, lemony acidity.

Although this will age gracefully, you may not be able to restrain yourself… 13.5% abv.

One of the most renowned climats of this pretty village in the hills above Meursault. Aromas to put a smile on your face – textbook ripe stone-fruit, with a dash of struckmatch minerality, a seasoning of cedar and a sprinkle of white pepper. The palate has the taut, incisive acidity of Saint-Romain, with enough succulence of white peach fruit to balance it out. Crunchy and precise on the finish.

13% abv. Don’t miss this (note to self…)

Corney & Barrow Score 16.5 Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2025

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+ Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2026

£65/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK £200/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

BOURGOGNE CÔTE D’OR DOMAINE MOREY

MEURSAULT CLOS LE MEIX TAVAUX DOMAINE MOREY

Planted on average in 1984, this comes from 1.76 hectares of vines in Meursault, from relatively deep clay and chalk soils. In 2019, it is once again labelled Bourgogne Côte d’Or, the new(ish) appellation which recognises grapes from the Côte, rather than the wider Bourgogne region.

A wine of fleshy white peach fruit, with a crisp backbone of acidity, making for an early drinking, inviting style.

This is a 0.29 hectare parcel, planted in 1985. 2019 is the first vintage produced by the domaine, Anne Morey having bought this recently. This is a gently sloping site in the heart of the village, with rocky, well-drained soils.

Aromas of fine white peach and a honeysuckle, orange blossom intensity. The palate is cushioned and giving on the entry, a warm embrace of stone-fruits, with then backs off as quite steely acidity asserts itself, revealing a rocky, impressive sense of texture and grip. Very impressive first vintage – one to watch. 13.5% abv.

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2025 £120/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+ Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2027 £380/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

MEURSAULT LES TERRES BLANCHES DOMAINE MOREY

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU CHAMP GAIN 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. Chalky white peach aromas, with orange blossom perfume. The palate has a stunning sense of energy and drive, the substantial flavours of pear, quince and green melon skewered by a core of steely acidity.

Seriously impressive for a village-level wine, with a focused sense of place. 14.5% abv.

Made since 2017, the domaine’s Champ Gain comes from just 0.17 hectares of this stony high-slope premier cru. 40 year old vines. Hay, rich white peach and flinty minerality on the nose, with a tangerine rind lift. The palate is juicy, fruity and rather delectable on the entry, before hunkering down on a mid-palate of tensile Puligny acidity and chalky mineral texture. Perhaps the most acid-driven of the domaine’s premiers crus, this finishes with a bracing citrussy twist. Wonderful stuff. 13.5% abv.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 - 18 Recommended drinking from 2023 – 2028

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2024 – 2032 £725/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£380/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

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MEURSAULT LES TESSONS DOMAINE MOREY

BÂTARD-MONTRACHET GRAND CRU 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. I will admit to a little chuckle of excitement on smelling this – it’s an aromatic full-house of just-so peach fruit, deft flinty minerality and almonds, with a hint of orange blossom. The palate is chalky and precise – and yet powerfully confident, the fleshy peach fruit matched by taut, steely acidity. Lingering honeysuckle on the finish, wonderful. 14% abv.

The domaine has a 0.49 hectare holding in BâtardMontrachet’s renowned Clos Poirier, adjacent to Le Montrachet. The oldest vines date from 1965, with the average year of planting being 1992. The rich, welldrained clay soils here are relatively shallow. 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.

Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2023 – 2028

Recommended drinking from 2026 – 2036 £1,570/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£435/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU LES PERRIÈRES DOMAINE MOREY

To Order LONDON

This stony, sunny 0.52 hectare plot, close to PulignyMontrachet, was planted in 1985. Keeping its cards close to its chest when tasted in July 2021. Savoury aromas of wet earth and dry hay gradually give way to lemon, lime and quince. The palate is coiled and tight, with verve and power beneath the surface, a ripeness of fruit straining to escape its structural shackles. Taut, lemony acidity.

A seriously exciting Perrières in the making, which unsurprisingly needs patience. Lots of extract and fruit density remain in the mouth after spitting. 14% abv.

Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2024 – 2032 £755/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

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RED WINES MONTHÉLIE DOMAINE MOREY

VOLNAY 1ER CRU SANTENOTS 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. Delicate ruby colour. Aromas of bitter cherry and summer strawberries, bright and engaging. The palate is gratifyingly substantial on the attack, with peppery raspberry fruit lifted by a taut line of acidity and fine, gently grippy tannins. Now certified organic, this has stepped up a gear, excellent. 14% abv.

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.

Anne Morey describes it as velvety, heady and relatively rich.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2026

Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2033 £435/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£165/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

ALOXE-CORTON 1ER CRU LES VERCOTS MOREY-BLANC

POMMARD 1ER CRU GRANDS ÉPENOTS DOMAINE MOREY

Les Vercots lies between the Route Nationale and the back-road to Pernand-Vergelesses, south of the hill of Corton. Intense ruby-purple colour. Liquorice, violets and dark cherries on the nose, dark-fruited and pure.

The palate’s dense blackberry and cherry fruit, framed by supple tannins, is buoyed by fresh, vivacious acidity which carries the dark fruited flavours through to a moderately long finish. Ferrous, stony minerality adds complexity. 14.5% abv.

The most delicate and refined of Pommards, which Anne Morey describes as “a beautiful vineyard”. The domaine has a 0.43 hectare holding, mid-slope, planted in 1965.

The limestone is close to the surface, with red soils above. Bright ruby colour. Pretty rose petal and wild strawberry and peony aromas. The palate’s wonderfully pure raspberry and red cherry fruit is framed by filigreefine tannins and sustained by pitch-perfect acidity, a deeper blueberry and bitter chocolate bass note lending depth. Fabulous. Certified organic, 14% abv.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 - 17.5 Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2030 £335/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

VOLNAY 1ER CRU PITURES MOREY-BLANC

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 - 18 Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2033 £435/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

Tasting Guide Our tasting notes provide full details but, at your request, we have also introduced a clear and simple marking system. We hope

Only the second vintage. Pitures borders Pommard and Marquis d’Angerville’s Clos des Ducs. Domaine Lafarge also has a holding here. Mid-ruby colour. Aromas of bitter cherry and dark peppery spice, with rose petals to remind us we are in Volnay. The palate is forthright on the entry, evoking nearby Pommard and literally gripping you with its potent dark berried density and fine tannins, before finding a sinewy harmony on the mid-palate, lifted by fresh acids. 14.5% abv.

these guidelines assist you in your selection.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 - 17.5 Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2032

other than they are both cars and have wheels. It is not that

£350/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

Wines are scored out of 20. Customers seem to like it and it has the benefit of simplicity. We will often use a range of scores (e.g.

16.5 to 17) to indicate the potential to achieve a higher mark.

When a ‘+’ is shown it adds further to that potential. Wines from lesser vintages will, inevitably, show a lower overall score.

Wines are judged, in a very broad sense, against their peers. Why? Well, you cannot easily compare a Ford with an Aston Martin, different with wine.

A score is a summary only. The devil is in the detail, so please focus on the tasting notes and, as always, speak to our sales team.

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DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY

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2019 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

CONTACT US Our Locations

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