Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles AOC 2024

Wine description for Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles AOC 2024 by Thomas Morey

Colour & Appearance

Bright golden yellow with green reflections – youthful, clear, luminous.

Nose

Initially almost austere, cool and straight-laced: pickled green pineapple, preserved lemon, lemongrass and splashes of lime, alongside a hint of mirabelle plum. The restrained use of wood reveals itself only as a fine trace of cinnamon and vanilla, flanked by a discreet reductive note.

Palate

Absolutely clear, linear and precise. Plenty of power, yet grounded and silky in the way it coats the mouth – and at the same time cool notes, a vibrant energy and high-toned clarity. One of the most accessible and earliest-drinking Premier Crus of the estate.

Finish

Taut and juicy, with salty minerality and citrus freshness that lingers long.

Terroir & Origin

The climat Les Macherelles lies on the northern side of Chassagne on a gentle hill. The clay-rich soil with a high iron oxide content actually makes this vineyard site more predestined for Pinot Noir – around two-thirds of the 5.19 hectares are planted with it. Thomas Morey’s Chardonnay parcels feature 40- to 50-year-old vines.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay, fermented with indigenous yeasts in 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 per cent, and sulphur is added only late and minimally (maximum 35 mg/l).

Food Pairings

An ideal companion to grilled sole, scallops on lemon risotto, pan-roasted poulet with morel jus or young Comté.

Special Features

The fact that Domaine de la Romanée-Conti entrusted Thomas Morey with the care of its vines in Le Montrachet says everything about his skill in the vineyard. His estate has been organically certified since 2017. Les Macherelles is considered a quiet vineyard site – here, Morey proves just how much finesse it holds: a Chassagne of surgical precision rather than Burgundian opulence.