Winemaker Notes
This vineyard is located primarily between 984 feet and 1115 feet in elevation, up the hill and adjacent to Clos de la Roche and to the north of Les Genavrières.
One theory of the origin of the name Monts Luisants goes like this: It is said by the locals that the leaves of the vine are very yellow and never turn red in autumn. Late in the evening the sun shines through the canopy illuminating the area brightly. This could explain the word Luisants, present participle of the verb Luire, from Latin Lucere (gleam, shine, light.)
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
From a 0.6ha parcel of Chardonnay that Dujac rents, this has noticeably more depth and nuance than the village-level white. This is a substantial, serious white Burgundy, with an apricot character but also hints of lemon peel and a salty minerality. There is more depth and extract on the palate, but also more freshness. This will doubtless reward mid-term ageing if you have the patience to wait.
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Jasper Morris
Pale lemon and lime, slightly more reductive here, a little nutty character, misses the simplicity and purity of the village Morey but adds an extra dimension, some plums, more flesh to cover the bones and very good length.
Range: 91-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Monts Luisants Blanc was showing especially well, unwinding with notes of crisp orchard fruit, citrus zest, white flowers and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, tangy and incisive, with a concentrated, tightly wound core and a penetrating finish, it's one site that climate change clearly hasn't adversely affected.
Range: (92 - 94)+
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
While Morey-St-Denis of Burgundy might not get the same attention as its neighbors, Gevrey-Chambertin to the north and Chambolle-Musigny to the south, there is no reason why it shouldn’t. The same line of limestone runs from the Combe de Lavaux in Gevrey—all the way through Morey—ending in Chambolle.
There are four grand cru vineyards, moving southwards from the border with Gevrey-Chambertin: Clos de la Roche, Clos St-Denis, Clos des Lambrays, Clos de Tart and a small segment of Bonnes-Mares overlapping from Chambolle. Clos de la Roche is probably the finest vineyard, giving wines of true depth, body, and sturdiness for the long haul than most other vineyards.
Pinot Noir from Morey-St-Denis is known for its deep red cherry, blackcurrant and blueberry fruit. Aromas of spice, licorice and purple flowers are present in the wines’ youth, evolving to forest and game as the wine ages.