2023 Caroline Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumees

Les Chaumées sits right up high on the slope at the northern, Puligny-facing end of Chassagne, running right alongside the old quarry. Caroline Morey’s parcel features serious old-timer stock planted way back in the 1950s, notable for producing tiny millerandage berries that pack immense flavor concentration. Up at this altitude, the sheer amount of limestone in the soil shapes a style of Chassagne that completely skips over heavy, blockbuster richness, leaning instead into crystalline purity and structural lift. In the glass, it shows a pale colour and a restrained, elegant nose of white orchard fruit. True to the 2023 vintage, there is a brilliant transparency to the fruit and a vibrant, life-affirming freshness that makes it an absolute pleasure to drink. As it sits in the glass, it builds beautifully, revealing a gorgeous, cashmere-like texture that is incredibly pleasing on the palate. What makes this wine so impressive is how that luxurious mid-palate texture is effortlessly corralled by a great line of integrated acidity. It is a hallmark of Caroline's delicately refined style—never forced, never flashy. The finish is exceptionally long and leaves a detailed, chalky footprint. While it has the energy to be fun to drink early on, it will really begin to unfurl from 2028 and coast comfortably through to 2034.