2014 Morey-Coffinet Puligny-Montrachet Corvée des Vignes

Morey-Coffinet is on the southern edge of the village of Chassagne. It was started in 1978 when Michel Morey and his wife Fabienne combined vineyard parcels they’d received as wedding gifts. Michel Morey is the son of the late, highly regarded producer Marc Morey, and Fabienne is from the distinguished Pillot winemaking family. Both families have deep roots in the region and generations of history as winemakers, and together the couple worked their 22-acre domain. Now their son Thibault is sharing responsibility for the estate. Three-quarters of the estate’s wines are Chardonnay, mostly from Chassagne-Montrachet. Morey-Coffinet’s domain includes grand cru parcels in Batard Montrachet and Corton Charlemagne, as well as numerous premier crus.

Puligny-Montrachet, according to Burgundy writer Clive Coates, “is the greatest white wine commune on earth.” Though other reviewers are not always as extravagant in their praise, there is no question that the appellation’s wines are generally the most lauded Chardonnays in the world. Puligny-Montrachet the commune is tiny, with fewer than 500 residents. Yet the appellation named for it has 1,250 acres of vineyards, including 76 acres of Grands Crus and 247 acres of Premiers Crus. Its four famous Grands Crus are Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. There are 26 Premiers Crus completely or partly in the appellation. The Premiers and Grands Crus vineyards are on slopes that eventually rise to 1,300 feet and become total rock. In his admiration for this appellation, Coates added “The top Montrachets, Chevaliers and Bâtards are wines to drink on bended knees, with heartfelt and humble thanks.”

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.