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The Comprehensive Guide to Pierre Yves Colin Morey

Pierre Yves Colin Morey is one of the most highly regarded producer in Chassagne Montrachet, known for their reductive and leesy Chardonnay that can age for staggering amount of years. They also have a very low risk of premature oxidation (premox).


Winemaking

Pierre Yves aged all his wines in 350L barrel since 2007. According to Pierre Yves, ageing wines in 350L barrels gives the wines more energy and freshness and less creamy notes and oak spices.


Recommendations

PYCM wines are distinctive and stands out from most white Burgundies from their potent leesy, reductive notes. Their signature style is stamped across all their white wines, from the generic Bourgogne Blanc to Grand Cru Montrachet, which means that their entry level wines are great value for money.


Tasting Notes


Pernand Vergelesses

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Pernand Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille 2006
The reduction, extra long corks and wax-sealed bottles plays an important factor to PYCM’s longevity, even a humble 13 year old Pernand Vergelesses from a weak vintage is still fresh and hasn’t developed much tertiary flavours. The fruit intensity is fairly low in spite of the freshness (2006 was not a good vintage for white Burgundy). Lots of textured lees and creamy citrus. A chubby wine that resembles Corton Charlemagne at a fraction of the price. (86/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Pernand Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille 2010

The Sous Fretilles is a vineyard in Pernand Vergelesses that was only classified as a Premier Cru since 2001. It is located about 200 meters behind Corton Charlemagne, a well-known Grand Cru in Aloxe-Corton that yields rich and robust Chardonnay. Some reduction and struck match character of PYCM. Ripe fruits in a strict manner with an underlying mineral note. Slight alcohol on the nose with leesy red apple, butter pastries and toast. Good ripeness, Premier Cru weight with a direct profile. 2010? (88/100)


Saint Aubin

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Saint Aubin 1er Cru La Chateniere 2010

The 2010 PYCM St Aubin 1er Cru La Chateniere is pretty rich and rounded for a Saint Aubin, an appellation known for lighter and acidic white wines. In warmer vintages, Saint Aubin performs very well and offers weight and concentration closer to Chassagne Montrachet. Reductive struck-match and textbook PYCM buttery lees, gentle lime, cool climate tree fruits and crushed stones. Young and primary but getting approachable slowly. (88/100)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2012

Served blind by the sommelier at 67 Pall Mall – Pale lemon colour. A whiff of citrusy and buttery energy that only comes from certain producers in Burgundy. Good ripeness and rich leesy flavours. Stylistically, a ’squared’ and rigid white Burgundy I think. Lovely buttery and new oak fragrant. Still very young and reductive. Vibrant and expressive. Creamy but a bit too transparent to be Meursault. Pierre Yves Colin Morey Saint Aubin En Remilly 2011? (89/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2013

This magnum of 2013 PYCM Saint Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly is young yet irresistible today. A generous profile of textured creamy yeast, refreshing tree fruits of green apples (Saint Aubin characteristics), ripe lemons, buttery new oak toast and struck-match reduction. Beautiful minerality and smart oak spices on the finish, good length. (89/100)


Meursault

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Meursault Les Navaux 2014

2014 White Burgundy is without a doubt the best vintage for white Burgundy from the past 2 decades. The 2014 PYCM Meursault Les Narvaux is incredibly nervy and intense for a village wine, punching above its weight. Textbook buttery roundness and subtle reduction of PYCM, lovely minerals, pure citrus fruits and fair bit of energy. Stoney finish with superb acidity. Drink now till 2038 or possibly longer. (89/100)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2009

Tasted blind – Expressive Meursault creamy roundness and soft tree fruits. Nice and clean minerals on the mid palate, creamy and buttery melons. A distinctive rounded structure that reminds me of PYCM style. PYCM Meursault 1er Cru, 2010? Drinking very well now with hints of development. (90/100) The vintage took us by surprise when the label was revealed. Rich and rounded like 2010 but none of the over-ripeness or heaviness of 2009.

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2013

This 2013 PYCM Meursault Charmes offers crystalline purity and modern creamy reduction that is hard to resist (stood well next to Coche Dury Meursault 2014). Gorgeous nose of buttery toast and elegant leesy flavours supported by supple reduction. Cool and restrained tree fruits and white peach. Slightly lighter than the generic Merusault Coche Dury 14 but drinking beautifully now. (90-91/100‬)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres 2011

The 2011 PYCM Meursault Perrieres is very close to Grand Cru level, in truth I would have guessed Grand Cru if served blind. PYCM subtle reduction and struck-match nose, well defined floral spices and balanced profile of stones and citrus, a style I adore in white Burgundy. Also this is a lovely example of Perrieres. Rich tropical fruits, medium bodied with explosive minerals, persistent finish. Good concentration without any flabbiness. Young and could benefit with decanting. Drink now – 2038. (92-93/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres 2012

This 2012 PYCM Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres was my wine of the night in the 2011/2012 White Burgundy Blind Tasting – A gleaming array of ripe white orchard fruits, buttery toast supple floral notes. Very stoney and powerful. Great tension and length with an impeccable balance. An aristocratic wine. Meursault Charmes from a top producer? 2012? Drink now – 2042. (92/100)


Puligny Montrachet

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Puligny Montrachet Le Trézin 2008

The quality of this 2008 Puligny Montrachet Le Trézin pleasantly surprised us. Young, inviting and precise. Le Trézin is located at the top of the Puligny slope, next to Saint-Aubin. This is incredibly fresh for a 2008 village Puligny Montrachet. Vibrant aroma with a mild reduction, matchstick. Pristine nose of cool tree fruits and zest with lovely body. The style of Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey is very apparent here, rich lees with a restrained mineral character that lingers on the palate, squared. (90/100)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2007

The PYCM Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres 2007 was not as fruit driven as I had expected. Strangely Pierre Yves made some exceptional wines in weaker vintages (06, 09, 11) but not particularly outstanding wines in great vintages (07, ‘10). Creamy lees with slight reduction. Gentle intensity of white pear, maturing ripe lemon, bright wood spices and mild green tannins. Lovely premier cru weight with clean acidity, however not much fruits intensity. (88/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2011

As strange as it sounds, I find PYCM perform better in warm vintages than classic white Burgundy vintages. This 2012 PYCM Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres came after the Ramonet BBM, which probably hindered the fruit concentration. Tasted blind – Clean leesy reduction. Rich bodied, lower acidity. PYCM Corton Charlemagne? 2013? Or could be 2011? (91/100)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gains 2011

This 2011 PYCM Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gains offers great density. 2011/2012 White Burgundy Blind Tasting – Mild reduction. Young and tight profile of yellow oculars fruits, white flowers and leesy texture. Full bodied with lots of minerality. Good ripeness. 2012? Corton Charlemagne? (90/100)


Chassagne Montrachet


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines 2009

The 1er Cru Les Baudines is located at the southern end of Chassagne Montrachet, bordering Santenay. There are 51 Premier Cru vineyards in Chassagne Montrachet, and Les Baudines is one of the lesser-known vineyards. This vineyard normally yields decent chardonnay but not as rich as other premier Crus. The 2009 heat gave this wine a good richness. Not much expression initially. Lemon, pear, and flints. Good body with subtle heat on the finish. We’ll judged acidity, tropical fruits and tamed cream. (89/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines 2014

Sophisticated and attractive. Intense juicy apples, lemon, smokey buttermilk, bouquet white flowers, slight hazelnuts, tightly knit lees, minerality and salinity. Oak and lees treatment masked some of its Chassagne Montrachet characteristics and can easily be mixed up with Meursault judging by the aromas. Racy and refined, showing great with superb length. Deserves the cult status. (91-92+/100)


Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2009

PYCM Chassagne Montrachet En Remilly is a rare wine, located at the corner of Chevalier Montrachet. Sadly PYCM no longer make this wine after 2012, thankfully Maison Harbour and Bruno Colin are making lovely wines from this vineyard. Brilliant intensity and precision. Oily richness with crushed stone smell and woody buttery popcorn, hints of alcohol on the palate reflecting the vintage. Superb creamy minerality of Chassagne, especially the airy supple aftertaste that brings me back to Chassagne. (91-92/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2010

Arguably PYCM makes the best wine in Chassagne Montrachet En Remilly, a mere 1.5 ha vineyard located right next to Chevalier Montrachet, however I find moost Chassagne En Remilly has closer resemblance with Saint Aubin En Remilly than Chevalier Montrachet. Tasted blind – Natural yeasty and brioche-y notes, low sulphur, zingy orchard fruits and textured cream. Young and leesy, generous on the palate. Saint Aubin 1er Cru? reminds me of PYCM? 2014? (90/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2011

The 2011 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly displays a generous profile of leesy pear fruits and smoked minerals, textbook PYCM leesy and reduction. Great texture and depth. Smoked minerals on the palate. This is the most distinctive style of wine in the Chassagne Montrachet En Remilly horizontal tasting. (91/100)


PYCM owns a 0.76ha parcel in the south-west mid-upper side of Caillerets (below En Virondot). Approximately 1/3 is 25 years old vines and 2/3 are 70 years old vines. Pierre Yves has been making Les Caillerets since 2006, just after he left his father’s estate. Les Caillerets is one of the top three Premier Cru vineyards in Chassagne Montrachet (along with Grand Ruchottes and La Romanee), it always shows a bright and intense minerality with lively orchard fruits. La Romanee is also one of the top vineyards of Chassagne, showing great fruit intensity and fresh acidity.

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2007
2007 was the first vintage Pierre Yves of completely ageing his wines in 350L barrels. The 2007 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is incredibly bright and energetic, if tasted blind I would have guessed 2011 oldest. Similar to 2011 Caillerets, this 2007 is lean and focused, great acidity and transparency. Drink now to 2040. (90/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2008
2008 is a vintage I have seldomly appreciated, but this 2008 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets was surprisingly good. Vibrant and balanced with in-depth orchard fruits, refined creamy lees and toasted wood. Rich body with fine acidity and exotic spices. Excellent. Drink now to 2040. (93/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2009
Pierre Yves generally outperforms in warm vintages, especially in 2015 and 2009. The 2009 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is still brilliantly young and expressive, ripe tree fruits, textured lees with mild reduction. Explosive minerals on the palate along with the generous buttery toast. Full bodied and ripe but not flabby at all. (92/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2010
The 2010 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is the only PYCM that I have tasted that is maturing faster than expected, this bottle showed signs of premox. Ripe orchard fruits, buttery lees with toasted spices and mild dried apricots. Big-boned with adequate acidity. I would beware of premox in 2010. (88-90/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2011
The 2011 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is transparent of the terroir and is in its drinking window. A lower pitched leesy texture compared to the 2010 next to it, not as intense but drinking well today. Good nerve and lively. Approachable now. (90-91/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2014
The 2014 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is one of the finest Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru. Fresh and tight array of juicy tree fruits, buttery popcorn reduction, touch of exotic tropical fruits. Grand Cru intensity with razor sharp acidity. Full bodied yet refined and silky. Drink from 2028. (93-94/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2015
The 2015 Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is a serious wine, and Pierre Yves outperforms in warm vintages. An intense array of ripe and muscular orchard fruits, rounded buttery texture with sophisticated Grand Cru bone and qualities. Great lengthy mineral finish. This will surpass 2009. (93/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2016
2016 was a tricky vintage in Chassagne Montrachet and Saint Aubin due to loss of shoots in the severe frost night of 26th of April, marking a very low yield vintage. The 2016 Caillerets offers a perfumed nose of reductive orchard fruits, glossy lemons, white flowers, textured lees and smart oak spices. PYCM’s Caillerets has notably more new oak spices than Caroline Morey’s Caillerets (which was made in the exact same style, just less new oak). Great energy and depth with explosive minerality (a signature of Caillerets). 2016 will need a lot more ageing, showing latent energy in the glass after an hour. Drink from 2027. (91/100)


Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2007

Tasted these two PYCM Corton Charlemagne side by side and guessed the vintage. • The 2007 showed a leaner style with ample austere acidity, which I think works very well with the fatty Corton Charlie. Fresh lime and citrus with textbook broad-shouldered spiced, leesy flavours of PYCM. Bright reduction with Grand Cru weight. The nervy acidity and freshness gave away the 2007 vintage, a full bodied meanie. Well done Pierre Yves! (91-92/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2008

Tasted the 2007 and 2008 PYCM Corton Charlemagne side by side and guessed the vintage. The 2008 Corton Charlemagne was richer and fuller, a clear reflection of its vintage characteristics. Pierre Yves managed very well in this vintage (as well as hot vintages like 09 & 15), Great intensity of spices, white peach, ripe stone fruits and dry extract. Big-boned, reductive minerals and Grand Cru texture. A very well made wine for this vintage. (92/100)

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2009

Tasted blind – Lots of cream and smoked minerals. It seems the winemaking style dictates the wine and perhaps partially hides the terroir. Sleek style with long elevage, very mineral driven with energetic lemon and subtle nectarine. Some heat and ripe fruits. Rich, slightly oily. A warm vintage? PYCM Corton Charlemagne? My second guess was Meursault Premier Cru. The aromas are fairly straightforward but with good richness. (92/100)


Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2011

One of PYCM’s top wine from bought grapes. Very distinctive PYCM mineral purity with generous leesy texture. Great concentration and opulent creamy flavours. Beautifully crafted Meursault-like (creamy) aromas with fresh ripe fruits. Very sophisticated and refined. However not a massive step-up from his Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines 2014. (94/100)


Batard Montrachet Grand Cru

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2007

The 2007 PYCM Batard Montrachet was unanimously voted for the wine of the night in the Chassagne & Chambolle dinner. Tasted blind – Brilliant array of tight reduction and buttery textured lees, fresh red apples, focused lemon zest and creamy spices. Young and energetic with lovely depth. Grand Cru tension with mild glycerol finish, a good indication of Batard Montrachet. 2012? (‪92-93/100‬) Note: Pierre Yves only used their own Batard grapes in 2007.


Criots Batard Montrachet Grand Cru

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Criots Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2011

Many 2011 are drinking beautifully, even the Grand Crus are ready for business. Embarrassingly, I was miles away from the right answer this time. Tasted blind – Reductive waxy leesy characteristics and strong sense of white peppery minerality reminds me of Raveneau Chablis. White pear fruits and citrus extract, waxy layer of oak smoke and butter. Beautiful minerality and texture. Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru? (91/100)


Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru

Pierre Yves Colin Morey Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2013

PYCM rarely disappoints, and this Chevy hits all the spot. Crystalline array of white tree fruits, zesty lemons and refined minerals. Reductive, Premier Cru weight yet intense and very refined. Incredible tension on the palate. Gorgeous. Drink from now – 2040. Arnaud Ente / Benoit Ente? Puligny 1er Cru? 2014? (92/100) This was voted joint White WOTN along with the 1998 Leflaive Bienvenues Batard Montrachet on Survey Monkey.

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