Les Sorbes is a Premier Cru climat of the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation in the Cote de Nuits. It is one of several vineyards that lie at the base of the Cote d'Or escarpment, below the Morey-Saint-Denis Grand Cru vineyards. Pinot Noir-based wines made in the Les Sorbes vineyards are medium-bodied with soft tannins.
The vineyard lies on the outskirts of the village of Morey-Saint-Denis itself, just south of the Clos Sorbes Premier Cru climat. The Clos des Lambrays and Clos de Tart Grand Cru climats cover the steeper hillside above, while the vineyard's southern boundary is lined with houses and buildings belonging to the village. The "Sorbes" in the vineyard's name refer to the rowan trees that were once common in the area.
Les Sorbes has similar limestone marl soil as in the Clos Sorbes climat, deeper and richer than that on the hillside above. This soil has a high proportion of clay, which gives the vines access to water throughout the growing season, although this is naturally limited by the drainage of the soil. Vines have to develop strong roots to extract the moisture from the clay, giving them strength and leading to the development of small, concentrated grapes.
The vines are planted on a gentle southeast-facing slope, and are thus positioned favorably to the morning sunlight. This exposure aids ripening, developing sugars and phenols in the grapes, but much cooler nights lead to a retention of acidity. The wines that come from these grapes are well balanced as a result, and can age for several years.
Morey-Saint-Denis is a highly fragmented appellation with 20 Premier Cru vineyards within its bounds (neighboring appellation Gevrey-Chambertin only has 26 Premier Crus, despite covering more than twice as much land). Les Sorbes is not as well known as some of its Premier Cru counterparts, but several highly respected producers source grapes from this vineyard to make their wines.
