2018 Domaine Caroline Morey

Boutique Brilliance

The opportunity afforded to Caroline (Colin) Morey on the inheritance of her father’s estate – in 2014 – was far more than just accumulating additional Côte de Beaune vines. Jean-Marc Morey’s benevolence has allowed the creation of an entirely separate entity from the wondrous PYCM kingdom that she co-owns with her husband, Pierre-Yves Colin. This is a niche project – without the scale or complexity of all those fruit and farming PYCM contracts – that is arguably the purest expression of their supreme joint talent; wines made from vineyards that Caroline played in as a small child.

www.abvintners.co.uk 01892 724977 wine@abvintners.co.uk

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Consequently, as you can imagine, this exciting operation is very close to Caroline’s heart. Indeed, one should arguably consider Domaine Caroline Morey more like Domaine d’Auvenay; the personal estate owned by the Grande Dame of Burgundy, Lalou Bize-Leroy. With that generous bequest, Caroline and Pierre-Yves are creating a boutique label on which to lavish all their considerable farming and winemaking acumen. A family domaine which I’m sure over time – once the ‘experts’ truly understand the nature of the it – will be regarded as one of the most feted Côte de Beaune producers, sitting alongside PYCM in that tiny elite class.

Here’s a formidable husband and wife team at the very top of their game; Madame Colin has a rare talent with Pinot Noir and her old man is not too shabby with Chardonnay either! All that flair, supported by a long-standing crew (working jointly for both estates) – under the direction of Pierre-Yves with his obsessive pursuit of perfection in the vineyards – and the pick of some of the most coveted vineyards in the district; Criots Bâtard Montrachet, Beaune Grèves, Chassagne Vergers, Champ Gains, Chaumées plus the inimitable Caillerets. The only downside here is the limited availability; all wines in this offer are available on allocation only.

As we’ve cited before, Caroline is a wonderfully sensitive winemaker, one of the leading Pinot Noir practitioners in Chassagne Montrachet. And her 2018 reds – explosively delicious, transparent, fragrant and fine-boned – will only enhance that ever-growing reputation. Her judicious use of whole bunches during fermentation creates ‘light’ and ‘space’ within the wines but never detracts from the purity of the Pinot fruit.

And the 2018 whites? Well, as you’d expect from such an address, these are pedigree Chardonnays of the very highest order. From Santenay to Criots, deeply flavoured and wonderfully textured wines, underpinned by bedrock mineral and dancing freshness. An electrifying 2018 Caroline Morey collection – reds and whites – of unquestionably world-class calibre.

2018 Santenay Cornières Rouge 6 BOTTLES £120.00

2018 Santenay 1er Cru Comme Rouge 6 BOTTLES £140.00

I drank the 2015 Cornières last night. Pale, sensuous, a delightful Pinot. And, in 2018, Caroline has conjured more magic out of this humble appellation. Both smell terrific: fresh cherry pie immediately springs to mind on the sprightly Cornières. The Comme is arguably finer – real heart and strength – but the Cornières is equally delicious. Two outstanding wines, chock-full of vibrant fruit and without weight. From 2022.

2018 Chassagne Montrachet Rouge 6 BOTTLES £130.00

2018 Chassagne 1er Cru Champs Gains Rouge 6 BOTTLES £220.00

Historically known for its Pinot, Chassagne Rouge is on its way back, the future – take my word for it! The village wine is fine, transparent with svelte tannins, which melt upon contact with the palate; a very sophisticated example. The 1er Cru Champs Gains is even more impressive; it’s just so graceful and lifted, with Caroline using 40% whole bunch fruit. The end-result is dramatic with an explosively concentrated middle which feeds into an exceptional finish. I’d drink the villages from 2023 and the 1er Cru from 2025.

2018 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Rouge 6 BOTTLES £230.00

Grèves is the most central of the town’s vineyards – the true epitome of the appellation. In most hands it can be brooding and imposing, but Caroline has rendered her Grèves version from pure silk. Seductive and velvety, crushed strawberry and rose petals, this grows and grows in the glass. Waves of fruit continue to blossom through to the intense finish. It’s tempting to drink young, but I’d wait; from 2025, this will be seriously classy.

Price in bond case*Red

www.abvintners.co.uk 01892 724977 wine@abvintners.co.uk

* The wines in this offer are priced in-bond.

Santenay Cornieres Blanc, Beaune Greves Blanc and all the reds for shipment Spring 2020. All the other whites arrive in autumn 2020.

“ Honestly, in 2018, I never saw Pinot fruit like this in the Côte de Beaune, never! With the work that Caroline is doing in the cellar, coupled with my work in the vineyards, we are extremely happy with our 2018 reds.”

PI ER R E-Y V ES COL I N

NEW CAROLINE MOREY CLIENTSIt is in our commercial interest to try and satisfy everyone. New faces will be actively encouraged but please do not go asking simply for jewels. We have a long and faithful CM customer queue.

2018 Santenay Cornières Blanc 6 BOTTLES £130.00

Caroline’s Santenay Blanc is raised in Pierre-Yves’s beloved 350 litre Chassin barrels – a nod to the high esteem in which he holds this wine. And the 2018 is terrific, with Chassagne-like complexity on the silky, light-touch palate. This seriously seamless wine finishes with verve and lift. A Santenay that punches well above its weight and could easily do damage in a flight of Chassagne Morgeots! Drink with aplomb from 2021.

2018 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Blanc 6 BOTTLES £190.00

If Grèves Rouge can have an (undeserved) reputation for being a little backward, Caroline’s Grèves white is the opposite. Lifted, pretty and laced with soft chalk; it’s rich but never exotic. Pliant and open knit, yet this is an element of energy and tension that I find hugely appealing. What a joyous wine this is. Drink from 2022.

2018 Chassagne Montrachet Chambrées 6 BOTTLES £190.00

The Chassagne villages has a new name in 2018 but it’s still a blend of the same sites as last year: Masures (just under Champ-Gains), Bergerie (near Blanchot Dessous) and Le Chêne (under the family home). This is so archetypally ‘Chassagne’ with the mass of racy citrus and awash with nervous energy. There is striking focus and drive, but in a sophisticated, understated style. Magic quality. Drink from 2022

White Price in bond case*

www.abvintners.co.uk 01892 724977 wine@abvintners.co.uk

2018 FORMATS AND PACK SIZESSubject to the size of your allocation, the Caroline Morey 2018s are available in magnums (150cl) and double magnums (300cl) if required. Please enquire at the time of confirming. Once invoiced, we cannot change pack or bottles sizes.

“ The secret to great Chardonnay is for the fruit to be healthy and mature. If you have that and you work your vineyards very carefully then, with the special terroir we have, you can make exceptional wines.”

C A ROL I N E MOR EY

* The wines in this offer are priced in-bond.

Santenay Cornieres Blanc, Beaune Greves Blanc and all the reds for shipment Spring 2020. All the other whites arrive in autumn 2020.

Terms and Conditions The prices quoted are in-bond per case (6 x 75cl) excluding duty (currently £13.39 per six bottles) and vat. We shall contact upon arrival to organise delivery or transfer to in-bond reserves. Otherwise, our normal terms apply.

2018 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Gains 6 BOTTLES £250.00

2018 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Vergers 6 BOTTLES £290.00

2018 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Chaumées 6 BOTTLES £290.00

2018 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Caillerets 6 BOTTLES £390.00

This remarkable quartet of 1er Crus are domaine-defining in many ways and picking them apart is a fantastic exercise! The Champs Gains - underneath Caillerets - is multi-dimensional and shares with Vergers the same gloriously floral nose of spring blossom ‘cut’ with citrus zest. Vergers finishes with an extra flourish of saline minerality and a concentration which gets into every nook and cranny. Old vine Chaumées is deeper and more primal; a wine of gulp-inducing texture, class and clarity. Finally, the revered Caillerets; my note starts with a single word “blimey”. Grand Cru quality: rich, citrus, mineral-slaked and full of complexity and personality. Drink from 2025.

2018 Criots Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru 3 BOTTLES £750.00

Barely worth a note, such is the tiny production of this Grand Cru… but allow me a little indulgence because it’s rare when wines have everything… and this does. The nose alone is staggering. Sea-shore accents, spring blossom and complex citrus oils lead to a broad palate with unctuous texture and flavours of such persistence they stretch the full length of the wine from front to back. Underneath, there is a deeper, bedrock component which speaks of the fathoms to be revealed over time. Fabulous. Drink from 2028.

White Price in bond case*

www.abvintners.co.uk 01892 724977 wine@abvintners.co.uk

* The wines in this offer are priced in-bond.

Santenay Cornieres Blanc, Beaune Greves Blanc and all the reds for shipment Spring 2020. All the other whites arrive in autumn 2020.

“ This kind of vintage suits the way we work. The Chardonnay fruit was juicy, it brought a lot of finesse, a lot of energy, like 2009 or 2011. I’m very happy with the freshness of my 2018s.”

C A ROL I N E MOR EY

OLDER CM VINTAGESIf you wish to sell any of your Caroline Morey wines in the future, we urge you to offer A&B Vintners first refusal to ensure the integrity of the secondary market. Please contact re older Caroline Morey vintages; we do occasionally have availability, albeit not at release prices.