Domaine Nicole Lamarche : Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Monts Luisants" 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru "Les Monts Luisants" 2023 from Domaine Nicole Lamarche

Tasting

Colour
The wine reveals a delicate hue, reflecting a gentle extraction.

Nose
Remarkably pure, the aromatic bouquet exudes notes of white flowers and juicy red fruit, subtly lifted by spicy touches reminiscent of white pepper.

Palate
Fresh and vibrant, the palate stands out for its incisive acidity and fine mineral tension. It offers flavours of crunchy red fruit, supported by fine yet still tight-knit tannins. The long, pure finish lingers with lovely salinity and a hint of blood orange.

Food and wine pairings

The estate suggests serving this wine with beef tartare and Paimpol oysters, accompanied by a redcurrant vinaigrette and a briny cream. More generally, this cuvée will pair beautifully with roast poultry, small feathered game such as quail, or delicately grilled oily fish.

Serving and cellaring

To enjoy this Morey-Saint-Denis at its best, serve it at around 16°C. Brief decanting may be considered in its youth to soften its structure. This wine can be cellared and enjoyed from 2030 until at least 2043.

The pure, taut expression of a Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru

The estate

Based in Vosne-Romanée in the heart of Burgundy, Domaine Nicole Lamarche was truly established in the early 20th century by Henri Lamarche, although the family's roots go back further. Now run by Nicole Lamarche, who represents the fourth generation, the estate covers some twelve hectares. Renowned as the sole owner of the La Grande Rue Grand Cru monopole, the domaine stands out for its organic, though uncertified, viticulture and a philosophy centred on finesse, precision and respect for natural balance.

The vineyard

The Monts Luisants climat is a high-altitude terroir located on the upper part of the slope of the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation, overlooking the Grands Crus. This sector is characterised by a steep gradient and particularly thin soils made up of poor limestone and scree. Historically renowned for its white wines, this demanding terroir subjects the vines to natural water stress, encouraging slow ripening and giving the grapes excellent aromatic concentration as well as pronounced salinity.

Winemaking and ageing

The Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru "Les Monts Luisants" 2023 is harvested by hand. As the stems were deemed insufficiently ripe, the crop is fully destemmed. Winemaking favours gentle extraction, with a maceration of around twenty days and fermentation carried out by indigenous yeasts, punctuated by light pump-overs. Finally, the wine undergoes extended ageing of 16 to 20 months in oak barrels, with a very small proportion of new wood to preserve the vibrancy of the fruit.

Grape variety

Pinot Noir (100%).