Morey-Saint-Denis

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The relief of the Côte de Nuits is tectonic in origin and extends over approximately 25 kilometres in a general north–south direction.
• The escarpment of the Côte, with a drop of approximately 150 metres, is made up of Bajocian and Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) limestones, of which the Comblanchien limestone forms the structural backbone of the relief.
• A small, steep-sided valley (combe) cuts through the vine-growing slope, and its mouth forms an alluvial fan associated with stony, well-drained soils.
• The plots delimited for grape growing are situated at altitudes of between 250 and 350 metres, on the main slope and on the alluvial fan on the plain.
• The climate is cool oceanic, with mean annual rainfall of approximately 750 millimetres and a mean annual temperature of 10.5 °C, with no marked summer drought.
• The Côte benefits from climatic shelter to the east of the Morvan massif and the Burgundy plateaux, giving it a thermal advantage and a notably lower rainfall than the surrounding region.

• From the Middle Ages onwards, the Cistercian abbey of Tart, that of La Bussière-sur-Ouche, the lords of Vergy, and great Burgundian families acquired and developed wine-growing estates in Morey-Saint-Denis.
• Under a long-standing local custom, the premier cru wines from the climat Monts Luisants may be produced from the Aligoté grape variety, while the white wines are derived mainly from Chardonnay.
• The practice is to age the wines for at least 8 months, which gives them a certain capacity for cellaring depending on the characteristics of the vintage and the climat.

• The red wines display a ruby colour with a velvety tannic structure and an acid balance that lends them great finesse.
• The wines bearing the 'premier cru' designation are frequently enriched by notes of oak or undergrowth, with a fine structure and great aromatic length.

• The east-facing orientation of the Côte to the first rays of the rising sun encourages an early warming of the soils and disperses morning mists.
• The plots classified as 'premier cru' are planted on slopes resting on a calcareous substrate, in the most favourable exposures, and are distinguished by shallow, well-drained soils owing to the gradient, as well as by an open aspect that guarantees maximum sunshine.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Aux Charmes AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Aux Cheseaux AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Clos Baulet AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Clos des Ormes AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Clos Sorbè AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Côte Rotie AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru La Bussière AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru La Riotte AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Le Village AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Blanchards AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Chaffots AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Charrières AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Chenevery AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Faconnières AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Genavrières AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Gruenchers AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Millandes AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Ruchots AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Les Sorbès AOC (PDO)
• Morey-Saint-Denis premier cru Monts Luisants AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF)
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — BIVB