Kermit Lynch said many years ago that if one is looking for the best values, one must look where others aren’t looking. Never has that been more true than in Burgundy today (for all of the obvious reasons). In the recent under-the-radar red Burgundy thread, Dan Bailey chimed in with the likes of Jean-Marc Pillot’s lovely Chassagne-Montrachet Clos St. Jean (from 110 year-old plus vines) and Jeremy Holmes identified Jean-Marc Vincent’s beautiful Santenay cuvees and others.
My aim is to begin a thread where members post their notes regarding off-the-beaten-path red and white Burgundies, the likes of Maranges, Santenay, red Chassagne-Montrachet, Blagny (particularly rouge), Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses, Ladoix, Fixin, Marsannay, Givry, etc. All the better if the poster is able to share some further insight into the domaine.
I will start things off with the 2011/2012 Domaine Jean-Marc Morey Santenay Cornieres. My local Rosenthal rep sent me a sample of the 2011, but, sadly, I was slow to get to it. It has everything one could possibly want in a $30ish red Burgundy - a lovely aroma of dusty red fruits and spice, with purity, intensity, precision and freshness on the palate. It registers cool, and the tannins are sweet and easy. The 2012 is in the same mold, but has more density to the core. If you see this wine anywhere for near $30, my recommendation is that you buy it. I saw some e-mail high-fivin’ among Rosenthal personnel regarding the 2011 of this wine, and it was for very good reason. I wish that I had more stacks to sell. Unlike some Chassagne-Montrachet producers, Jean-Marc Morey takes his reds seriously, although his best red may be his Santenay Grand Clos Rousseau (TN to follow).
Disclaimer: I sell Jean-Marc Morey wines and likely the others I will post about in this thread.