Morey Saint Denis blanc Pierre Virant 2024 Domaine Lecheneaut

The Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc Pierre Virant 2024 from Domaine Lécheneaut is one of the most precious and discreet rarities of the Côte de Nuits, made from one of the few Chardonnay parcels in the entire appellation. Only 800 bottles produced annually. White flowers, citrus and the minerality of Morey. A rare and precise white from Lécheneaut, fresh, taut and marked by lovely aromatic elegance.

Terroir and vineyard

The Pierre Virant parcel sits on the upper part of the slope, above the famous Clos Saint-Denis, on compact Bathonian limestone soil. At 270 metres altitude, this terroir enjoys a cooler climate than mid-slope and lower vineyard sites, giving the Chardonnay a natural tension, freshness and minerality that strikes you forcefully in an appellation devoted first and foremost to Pinot Noir. The parcel covers 4 ouvrées of Chardonnay averaging 9 years old, making these young vines whose directness and aromatic brightness more than compensate for their shallower roots compared to older plantings. This compact Bathonian limestone, hard and well-draining, is precisely what gives this discreet white its vertical, sculpted and mineral character. Viticulture follows the same biological rigour as the rest of the domaine. Winemaking is traditional and restrained, with gentle pressing, fermentation on indigenous yeasts and ageing on fine lees in oak barrels with a modest proportion of new wood, resulting in subtle oak that allows terroir and variety to speak freely.

Tasting profile

The colour is pale yellow with green glints, bright and crystalline. The nose is distinctly Chardonnay, with aromas of white flowers, hawthorn, acacia and verbena, accompanied by fresh citrus notes, lemon and grapefruit, and fine, precise limestone minerality characteristic of this high-altitude terroir. On the palate, the wine shows good density with plenty of tension, the natural freshness of the altitude expressed with verticality and precision reminiscent of great Chablis whites on limestone. The texture is silky and light, well-integrated acidity brings drive and persistence. The finish is delicate and long on floral and mineral notes of remarkable purity. A rare white that absolutely deserves discovery, best enjoyed over the next three to six years.

The domaine

Domaine Lécheneaut was founded in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the late 1950s by Fernand Lécheneaut. In 1986, his sons Philippe and Vincent took over, expanding the domaine to 10 hectares across 18 appellations and modernising its facilities. Since 2017, Jules Lécheneaut, the third generation, has joined the estate to ensure continuity of this heritage. The wines consistently show great precision in ageing and winemaking, and prices have remained fair, making this an excellent reference point in the Côte de Nuits.

Food pairing

This Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc Pierre Virant pairs beautifully with Dover sole meunière, grilled turbot with beurre blanc, steamed scallops, trout with almonds, white asparagus with mousseline sauce or aged goat cheese. It will also find lovely harmony with mushroom risotto and parmesan or light poultry in cream sauce. Served at 10 to 12 °C, it will reveal all the floral freshness, limestone tension and precious minerality of a Morey-Saint-Denis Chardonnay, among the rarest and most compelling of the entire Côte de Nuits.