Morey-Saint-Denis

When you learn that the village of Morey-Saint-Denis was burned down during the Thirty Years’ War but that everyone was relieved the vineyards had escaped unscathed, you understand what viticulture means to this small 135-hectare patch of land in the heart of the Côte-de-Nuits wine region. For your information, before you go digging through your encyclopedias, the Thirty Years’ War took place in the 17th century. This appellation produces both white and red wine, made from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc for the former, and Pinot Noir for the latter. The 16,000 hectoliters of Morey-Saint-Denis produced annually thrive on east-facing slopes with limestone subsoil. The reds have excellent aging potential, as they can be enjoyed up to 15 years after bottling. Visually, the red is not very dark but is very intense, purple with violet highlights when young. The whites have a very pale color. On the nose, red and black berries make up the majority of the bouquet, with the scent of brandy emerging over time. Flowers dominate the nose of the white wines.