“Gilles Morat is from Vergisson and has established a reputation as one of the superstar producers in the Maconnais. The emphasis here is on lively, vibrant wines with a sense of salinity.” Andy Howard MW – DECANTER.com, November 2021
Gilles and Joëlle Morat founded Domaine Gilles Morat in Vergisson in 1997. Gilles’ father and grandfather owned vines in Vergisson but had always sold their grapes to negociants. After 15 years in the electronics industry, Gilles decided it was time to move back to his home town so that his children would be able to enjoy the same life that he had while growing up. After spending one year in wine school in Davaye, Gilles combined his father’s vines with additional parcels and began his new domaine. The winery is located high in the village of Vergisson on a site known as “Châtaigneraie-Laborier” which denotes a 19th century plantation of chestnut trees (châtaignes) by a certain Monsieur Laborier. The Morats choose to keep the size of their domaine small (6 ha) so as to maintain an artisanal dedication to their vineyards and winemaking, while allowing the terroir of Vergisson to find full expression in their Pouilly-Fuissé cuvées. After a year making wine in Oregon and Tasmania, their son Pierre came back to the family domaine for the 2020 vintage.
From the outset, Gilles’ vision was to bottle the majority of his production and make wine in the elegant and pure style which has become his hallmark. After some experimentation, Gilles found two local barrel makers who could provide him with the type of French oak barrels from the Allier and Cher forests that would enhance the style of wine he sought. The soil and site specific cuvées of Bélemnites and Sur La Roche were launched in 2001.
The Morat’s vineyards are all on the steep, east-facing amphitheater slopes of the commune of Vergisson, which is the very heart of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. The famed Roche de Vergisson is the defining landmark of this region, with the Roche de Solutré forming the southern limit of the cirque or amphitheatre. The altitude of the vineyards is a very high 1000 (for the Sur La Roche cuvée) to 1500 feet. The soils are a mixture of clay and limestone, and vary in exact composition from parcel to parcel, a factor that adds complexity to the wines.
Farming/vinification practices: Certified Organic. Only when needed, minimal levels of organic fertilizer are applied. Gilles hand-plows the rows regularly, with different tools according to the season, and manually removes the grass directly under the vines. Morat avoids problems on the vine by pruning strictly to keep yields low, constantly checking his vines during the growing season and using minimal copper-sulfite treatments only when needed. Harvesting is all done by hand at optimal maturity, with careful selection in the vineyard. The wines are raised entirely on their lees in barrels for 10 to 12 months. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in the barrels, and the wine is kept on its lees, which are periodically stirred to enhance flavor and nuance, throughout the élevage. Gilles Morat prefers Allier and Cher oak from the center of France for its fine texture. Bottling usually takes place just before the new harvest.
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