2020 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, France
$224.99 USD
Press
Rated 93 points John Gilman
Alex noted that the Chenevottes was the first vineyard picked on August 20th, as it is a warmer microclimate and he did not want to let the wine sneak past the beautiful point of ripeness it was showing at the outset of the harvest. The wine has turned out gorgeously, offering a complex aromatic constellation of pear, fresh pineapple, lemon blossoms, a beautiful base of chalky soil tones, a hint of sweet butter and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is bright, zesty and full, with a succulent core of fruit, lovely mineral drive and backend bounce, vibrant acids and beautiful focus and balance on the long, complex and extremely refined finish. Gorgeous juice. (JG)
Rated 91-93 points Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, orange oil, lime zest, freshly baked bread and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's elegant and fine-boned at only 13.1% alcohol, concluding with a long, saline finish. The 2020 vintage has turned out brilliantly at Domaine Bernard Moreau—but what's new? Alex Moreau readied his harvesters promptly, as it takes eight days to pick the whole domaine, and began on August 20th. Yields were good, and the cellar is full (which is not the case in 2021), with alcohols moderate, the highest being 13.4%. As usual, the fruit is crushed before pressing (which lasts up to three and a half hours), briefly settled and barreled down (François Frères is the predominant cooper here) for vinification with plenty of lees, Moreau doing nothing to discourage quite protracted fermentations, which he finds build texture and complexity into the wines. For my palate, the results are some of the finest white wines produced on the Côte de Beaune, and they occupy a prominent place in my personal cellar. The market is certainly taking notice, and prices are rising fast, but readers won't want to miss the 2020s. (WK)
Rated 92 points Jasper Morris
Next door but very different. Light red soil with iron on a flatter incline. Often the first to be picked. Slightly rounder and sunnier on the nose. Richer and for earlier drinking. Touch of bacon fat. Drink from 2025-2030.
Rated 90-92 points Burghound
A slightly riper yet still exceptionally fresh nose blends aromas of both white and yellow orchard fruit, citrus and a similar hint of rosemary oil. There is fine mid-palate density to the delicious and solidly voluminous middle weight flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate and equally lingering finish that isn't quite as energetic.
Rated 90-92 points Vinous
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chenevottes 1er Cru has more intensity on the nose than the Les Vergers, a little richer in style with touches of dried honey and wild peach. Fine delineation. The palate is well balanced with another quite citric entry, sharp and it sports just the right amount of bitterness, though perhaps the Les Vergers is more pixelated. Still, this is very fine. (NM)
Rated 93 points John Gilman
Alex noted that the Chenevottes was the first vineyard picked on August 20th, as it is a warmer microclimate and he did not want to let the wine sneak past the beautiful point of ripeness it was showing at the outset of the harvest. The wine has turned out gorgeously, offering a complex aromatic constellation of pear, fresh pineapple, lemon blossoms, a beautiful base of chalky soil tones, a hint of sweet butter and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is bright, zesty and full, with a succulent core of fruit, lovely mineral drive and backend bounce, vibrant acids and beautiful focus and balance on the long, complex and extremely refined finish. Gorgeous juice. (JG)
Rated 91-93 points Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, orange oil, lime zest, freshly baked bread and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's elegant and fine-boned at only 13.1% alcohol, concluding with a long, saline finish. The 2020 vintage has turned out brilliantly at Domaine Bernard Moreau—but what's new? Alex Moreau readied his harvesters promptly, as it takes eight days to pick the whole domaine, and began on August 20th. Yields were good, and the cellar is full (which is not the case in 2021), with alcohols moderate, the highest being 13.4%. As usual, the fruit is crushed before pressing (which lasts up to three and a half hours), briefly settled and barreled down (François Frères is the predominant cooper here) for vinification with plenty of lees, Moreau doing nothing to discourage quite protracted fermentations, which he finds build texture and complexity into the wines. For my palate, the results are some of the finest white wines produced on the Côte de Beaune, and they occupy a prominent place in my personal cellar. The market is certainly taking notice, and prices are rising fast, but readers won't want to miss the 2020s. (WK)
Rated 92 points Jasper Morris
Next door but very different. Light red soil with iron on a flatter incline. Often the first to be picked. Slightly rounder and sunnier on the nose. Richer and for earlier drinking. Touch of bacon fat. Drink from 2025-2030.
Rated 90-92 points Burghound
A slightly riper yet still exceptionally fresh nose blends aromas of both white and yellow orchard fruit, citrus and a similar hint of rosemary oil. There is fine mid-palate density to the delicious and solidly voluminous middle weight flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate and equally lingering finish that isn't quite as energetic.
Rated 90-92 points Vinous
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chenevottes 1er Cru has more intensity on the nose than the Les Vergers, a little richer in style with touches of dried honey and wild peach. Fine delineation. The palate is well balanced with another quite citric entry, sharp and it sports just the right amount of bitterness, though perhaps the Les Vergers is more pixelated. Still, this is very fine. (NM)