Chassagne-Montrachet Vielles Vignes Rouge AC 2019 – Thomas Morey

Few people know that about 40 % of the vineyards of Chassagne-Montrachet are planted with Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is behind the white wines because they are so exceptional and red wine is "just very good". But this has a special advantage You get here red wine in excellent quality at a remarkably good price. And if you invest in the classic Le Vin de Bourgogne by Camille Rodier, who always tended to prefer the Côte de Nuits when it came to red wine, then it says that in his opinion the red Chassagne-Montrachets from the Clos St. Jean and from Morgeot can compete with many Crus of the Côte de Nuits. The Chassagne-Montrachet vieilles vignes comes from two plots near the village, planted in 1935 and 1969 respectively. The newer plot has predominantly brown loamy soils, the other is more sandy as well as permeable and is located on a ridge. Yields from these old vines are generally low, rarely reaching 45 hl per hectare. Fermentation of the largely destemmed grapes takes place with indigenous yeasts in a combination of neutral barrel and tank. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. The new wood content is around 20 %. Sulphur is only added in the last six months in the barrel, and several times with minimal doses, so that the wine never exceeds 35 mg/l in total.

bright cherry-red

Thomas Moreys Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes 2019 opens red berry and fruity. The fruit of red currants, cherries, pomegranates and red apples is quickly captured by a sous-bois note typical for Chassagne-Montrachet, i.e. a combination of undergrowth and a bit of mossy, slightly damp forest soil. This does not seem heavy, but invigorating and fresh.

On the palate the Chassagne-Montrachet vieilles vignes is exactly like having the center of Pommard and Beaune hit. On the one hand, the wine appears dark and earthy, but without the often taut and robust tannin of an PommardOn the other hand, the wine shows its silky and clear, fresh and juicy side. This is a completely unaffected and undisguised Pinot Noir, whose wood content shines through only very discreetly. The emphasis here is on the juicy fresh red as well as dark fruit, a pleasing bite and a mineral cool side that offers plenty of grip. This is not complicated, not overly complex, but very fine, very drinkable, and very Côte de Beaune.