Domaine Pierre Morey is part of a long viticultural tradition dating back to the 16th century. However, the modern history of the estate truly begins in 1793 with the Morey family's settlement in Meursault. Since then, each generation has perpetuated the art of viticulture, working the vines in this region globally recognised for the quality of its terroirs.
In 1935, Auguste Morey, Pierre Morey's father, became a sharecropper for the prestigious Domaine des Comtes Lafon. Pierre Morey took over in 1971, becoming in turn a sharecropper for several prestigious estates. However, in 1984, the Lafon and Poirier families decided to reclaim their plots. In parallel, Pierre Morey assumed a crucial role at Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet, where he was manager from 1988 to 2008, while also managing his own estate.
One of the defining moments in the estate's history was undoubtedly its conversion to organic agriculture in 1991, followed by biodynamics in 1997. Pierre Morey thus played a pioneering role by adopting environmentally friendly practices long before they became a trend in Burgundy.
Domaine Pierre Morey, which spans approximately 10 hectares, is primarily located in Meursault, with plots in Monthelie, Pommard, and Puligny-Montrachet. The terroirs of Meursault are particularly renowned for their ability to produce white wines of great purity and finesse, especially from Chardonnay grapes.
The clay-limestone soils of Meursault bring minerality and complexity to the wines, while the Burgundian climate, both temperate and continental, favours slow and homogeneous ripening of the grapes, essential for producing exceptional vintages. The estate is committed to respecting nature through biodynamic agriculture, which preserves the integrity of the terroir and encourages healthy biodiversity in the vineyards.
Vinification at Domaine Pierre Morey is based on principles of respect and preservation of the intrinsic qualities of the grape. After manual harvesting, the grapes are carefully sorted before being pressed, with a particularly delicate process for white wines to preserve the freshness and purity of the musts.
Fermentations are carried out without added yeast, allowing the indigenous yeasts of the terroir to act naturally. For white wines, the musts are then transferred to oak barrels where they ferment slowly. Bâtonnage, which involves stirring the lees to enrich the wine, is practised until Christmas, then sporadically depending on the vintage. This technique adds roundness and complexity to the wines while preserving their finesse. The ageing of the whites generally lasts between 12 and 24 months, depending on the cru, to allow the wine to reach full maturity before bottling.
Red wines, mainly made from Pinot Noir, follow traditional vinification in wooden vats, with total destemming of the grapes and gentle pumping over to favour gentle extraction of tannins and colour. Ageing continues in oak barrels for 15 to 24 months, depending on the vintage, before bottling without filtration to preserve all the richness and depth of the wine.
Domaine Pierre Morey offers a range of cuvées that reflect the diversity and richness of the Côte de Beaune terroirs. Here are the main cuvées:
White Wines:
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Meursault Les Tessons
Meursault Clos le Meix Tavaux
Meursault Les Terres Blanches
Puligny-Montrachet Champ Gain 1er Cru
Bourgogne Aligoté
Bourgogne Chardonnay (Côte d'Or)
Red Wines:
Pommard Grands Epenots 1er Cru
Volnay Santenots 1er Cru
Meursault Les Durots
Monthélie Rouge
Bourgogne Pinot Noir (Côte d'Or)
These cuvées are all aged with family know-how that enhances the terroir and unique characteristics of each plot. The white wines, particularly those from the Meursault terroirs, are renowned for their finesse, balance, and great ageing potential. The reds, especially those from Pommard and Volnay, offer a pure and elegant expression of Burgundian Pinot Noir, with fine tannins and beautiful aromatic depth.
Burgundy wine enthusiasts will find both classic and expressive vintages at Pierre Morey. Here is a list of particularly interesting vintages for the estate's wines: 1997, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021...
In addition to Domaine Pierre Morey, Burgundy wine enthusiasts may also turn to other prestigious estates in the region, such as Coche Dury, Arnaud Ente, Comtes Lafon, De Montille, Domaine Leflaive, Dujac, Etienne Sauzet, Joseph Drouhin, Leroy...
Domaine Pierre Morey embodies both tradition and innovation, with a pioneering approach to biodynamics and expertise passed down through generations. The estate's wines, whether white or red, reflect an exceptional terroir and a deep commitment to nature. By choosing a wine from Domaine Pierre Morey, you are sure to taste a vintage of great purity, carefully and patiently crafted to express all the richness of the Burgundian terroirs.