Open any book, ask any wine
critic, or search any corner of the world wide web and you’ll find consensus: A
two-mile stretch of vines in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune is the source of the
most astronomically expensive and historically famous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
vines on earth. Certain cult producers can fetch
hundreds of dollars. On the surface, it would seem these hallowed grounds are
strictly reserved for the top 1%. We’re here to say there are select producers—like
Jean-Marc Pillot and Sylvain Morey—who deliver top-tier quality without the high price.

As seen on the Kelly
Clarkson Show, Jean-Marc Pillot's, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru “Morgeot Les
Fairendes” and Sylvain Morey's Santenay Premier Cru “Grand Clos Rousseau” are true finds
for seasoned Burgundy collectors, and furthermore, textbook examples for those
just diving into Burgundy.

Wines Featured:

Jean-Marc Pillot, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
“Morgeot Les Fairendes” 2017:

For us, Jean-Marc Pillot is one of the most consistently
brilliant producers of classic white Burgundy. As we’ve learned over
the years, Pillot doesn't miss the mark, ever, and this micro-production of
Les Fairendes epitomizes why. Pillot’s
whites balance impressive soil character and electric minerality with vivid
pure fruit. They epitomize the Chassagne-Montrachet terroir while offering
remarkable approachability in their youth and impressive complexity and
evolution after even modest cellar aging. The “Les Fariendes” parcel is a mere
quarter hectare within the most renowned sector of the Morgeot Premier Cru vineyard. We’re talking
old-vine Chardonnay that was planted back in 1970. It consistently delivers one of the broadest and richest profiles in Pillot’s Chassagne lineup while
being light on its feet, exhibiting minerality and lots of freshness. Scents
of citrus peel, fresh ginger, white pepper, and white flowers rise from the
glass. Mouth-coating on the palate with elements of preserved lemon, white
peach, and golden delicious apple. Your palate will be cleansed with a cascade
of crushed rock, seashell, chalk and mouthwatering acidity. For optimal results,
decant for 30 minutes before serving at cellar temperature. 

Domaine Sylvain Morey, Santenay 1er Cru “Grand
Clos Rousseau” 2017:

Sylvain Morey picked up where his legendary father,
Jean-Marc, left off. The Grand Clos Rousseau is gorgeously delineated
and richly textured. An old-vine Pinot Noir standout. We locked up nearly half
of the nation's allocation for our members. The legend of Jean-Marc Morey continues with son Sylvain and
sister Caroline. The siblings inherited the family holdings back in 2014,
making this already small family domaine much smaller. Sylvain has gained a
deep knowledge working along his father to be a confident vigneron—one of the
true rising stars in Burgundy. This is evident up and down his lineup of wines
which are a bit more powerful than his father’s: they are more richly textured,
while still retaining a firm mineral backbone. We wish we can secure more of
his offerings, but when the family holdings just top 2-hectares there’s not
much to go around. The Santenay Premier Cru “Grand Clos Rousseau” is the
darling of the Morey portfolio. This mere .40-hectare holding was planted by
Slyvain’s grandfather Albert back in 1974. This is a true over achiever for an
appellation that gets too overlooked for Pinot Noir. The wine is more in line
with more noted sites further up in the Côte de Nuits that from Santenay.
After tasting several vintages of “Grand Clos Rousseau” over the years, we
understand why the Moreys love it so much. Often one of the last plots to
ripen, this holding is typically more tannic and concentrated than any of
Sylvain’s Pinot Noir offerings. A savvy pickup that will cellar nicely for
another four to six years. We gleamed over the purity of dark cherry fruit
laced with east Asian spices and licorice. It’s a young one that is powerful, but also impeccably balanced.