Bourgogne Chardonnay AOC 2023

Wine description for Bourgogne Chardonnay AOC 2023 by Thomas Morey

Colour & Appearance

Intense straw yellow with a faint greenish glint – youthful, clear and inviting in the glass.

Nose

A hint of gunflint over remarkably aromatic fruit that briefly evokes Riesling. Then ripe, juicy citrus fruits, apricots, yellow plums and yellow pears, accompanied by almonds and delicate nutty notes. The 2023 vintage and the southern component of the cuvée lend this entry-level wine an open, almost exuberant fruitiness.

Palate

Juicy and fruit-driven, with hints of tea, a subtle smokiness and yellow fruit. The warmth of the south is palpable, with minerality coming to the fore more distinctly than acid tension. The result: a hedonistic, open Chardonnay without any heaviness.

Finish

Medium-length, fruit-driven and supple, with a fine nutty note that lingers for a moment.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from several plots in Chassagne-Montrachet, where the Morey family has been rooted since 1643, complemented by portions from the Mâconnais (10%) and the Côte Chalonnaise (15%). Thomas Morey, a tenth-generation winemaker, has run his own 13-hectare domaine across seven villages of the Côte de Beaune since 2007 – certified organic since 2017. His reputation is such that Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has entrusted him with the care of their vines in Le Montrachet Grand Cru.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay, fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of neutral casks and tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, and the wine remains on its lees – without bâtonnage. The proportion of new wood is around 20%; sulphur is added only during the final six months in cask, in minimal doses, never exceeding a total of 35 mg/l.

Food Pairings

A versatile everyday wine: with pike-perch in beurre blanc, chicken breast with lemon thyme, pasta with mushrooms and Parmesan or a selection of young goat’s cheeses. Also a delight on its own on the terrace.

Special Notes

It is by no means a given that a winemaker of this calibre – with Grand Cru vines in Bâtard-Montrachet and the trust of DRC – should bottle such an accessible, honest entry-level wine. The 2023 showcases Morey’s style in its purest form: elegance rather than opulence, fruit rather than oak, Burgundy for drinking rather than marveling at.