LUCIEN BELLAND-TREMEAU
BURGUNDY, FRANCE 2020
Call them the “It Couple” of Burgundy. Only for Vincent and Sophie Morey, the moment has lasted more than just a couple of hot months. It's gone on for decades.
The Moreys are the husband-and-wife duo behind some of the most stunning wines you're going to find in all of Chassagne-Montrachet, whether under the Lucien Belland-Tremeau label or their own. Of particular note are their Premier Cru and Vieille Vignes, beloved for their captivating minerality, bright acidity, and lush texture, and among the most highly anticipated releases of Burgundy every year.
Jeb Dunnuck has long been a fan, and awarded their ’17 ‘Les Embrazées’ a 95-point rave. Having tasted through the Belland-Tremeau portfolio, we can report that the 2020 vintage is indisputably of comparable quality. But, as throughout Burgundy generally, yields are extremely low. Which means you’re going to have to act quickly if you want to secure these beauties for your collection.
We are so fortunate to be in possession of two wines from the ’20 vintage: their Santenay ‘La Cassière,’ which we're offering for a best price of under $40 a bottle, and their Les Embrazées, a Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru, which we're offering for a best price of under $70 a bottle.
That's 25% off of the retail price for our Concierge Family, a marvelous deal for a Premier Cru from one of the premier vineyard holdings within Chassagne-Montrachet.
Making great wine is, as we all know, a slow, methodical, and exacting process, involving so many variable factors and so many forces that cannot be controlled. But passion goes a long way, and so does experience. The Moreys are now in their fifth decade of making wine. Vincent got his start in Saint-Émilion before rejoining his family estate in Chassagne-Montrachet, in 1986. The same year, Sophie was completing her first vintage at Domaine Ménager-Belland, in Santenay. What united them both, beyond love, was their belief that great wine begins in the vineyard, and that no detail of viticulture is too small to matter.
Twenty years later, the couple established their own estate. Success quickly followed. Their portfolio is wide and ranging, but what you will find in all of these wines is that they are varietally correct, carefully crafted, and uncommonly elegant.
Take the Santenay ‘La Cassière.’ Despite its comparatively light price tag, it showed itself in our recent tasting to be a defined and balanced wine, with gorgeous aromatics — an ideal aperitif, but also a nimble dance partner for risotto, seared tuna, and roast chicken.
In the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru ‘Les Embrazées’, that characteristic elegance stands out even more. The vines, located on the border of Santenay, were planted between 1962 and 2000 in stony, shallow soils. That stone influence announces itself immediately, along with delicate, aromatic notes of candied lemon, pineapple, crushed stones, and white flowers. We loved its minerality and its fresh acidity, neither of which vied for dominance, but instead helped to balance the rich, almost opulent texture of the wine.
Burgundy aficionados, don’t miss your opportunity to collect these two gems with special Concierge Family pricing for the next week only!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2022. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
