Uncorked: Domaine Jean-Marc Morey 2004 Greves Premier Cru
Carafe Price: $52 ($110/bottle)
Region: Beaune, Burgundy
Wine Style: Terrior driven traditional Burgundian Pinot Noir
Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Oak: 12 months in 25% new French
Color: light red with slight rim variation
Nose: cherries and leather
Palate: red cherry and light spices with appealing meat notes
Jean-Marc and his brother Bernard split the holdings of their father in 1981 upon his retirement. Rather than further sub-divide the already small holdings the brothers divided the parcels to remain commercial viability. Their father was one of the first vignerons in Chassagne to sell his own wine instead of selling it to a negociant. Jean-Marc developed a deep sense of his terrior while working under his father and strives for a traditional style of expression. Destemming and balanced use of new French oak (usually around 25%) allows the delicate fruit to show and four years of bottle age have this wine drinking beautifully. One technique that may contribute to the rich flavor in this delicate package is Morey’s crop thinning technique. Instead of a traditional green harvest where under-ripe grapes are cut off the vine he removes excess buds before the vines expends energy on producing flowers and clusters. As a carafe this versatile red is a great lunch wine and can accompany fish dishes (especially salmon), the mussels with harissa broth and duck confit.
Model Bottle: Sous Chef Thomas Tennant presents this week's carafe.
