Mommessin 'Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin' – Morgon 1966

Mommessin – Morgon ‘Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin’ 1966

The 1966 Morgon from Mommessin, bearing the designation ‘Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin’, is a historic Beaujolais cru that bears the seal of quality from the famous Burgundian wine brotherhood. Today, such bottles are rare testaments to an era in which quality selection and a sense of tradition were closely intertwined.

The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin

The Confrérie was founded in 1934 in Nuits-Saint-Georges by Georges Faiveley and Camille Rodier – in the midst of the economic crisis, when Burgundy’s wines were struggling to find buyers. The aim was to promote Burgundian wines, regional gastronomy and time-honoured traditions. Since 1944, the Confrérie has been based at the historic Château du Clos de Vougeot.

A key element of its work is the ‘Tastevinage’: a rigorous blind tasting in which wines are assessed for authenticity, typicity and quality. Only a selection of the wines submitted are awarded the coveted ‘Tasteviné’ label – a sign that the wine meets the Confrérie’s high standards. Although the Confrérie primarily promotes Burgundy wines, selected Beaujolais crus (including Morgon) have also been awarded the label.

The House of Mommessin

Mommessin was founded in 1865 by Jean-Marie Mommessin in Mâcon and developed into a major négociant with a strong presence in the Beaujolais and Burgundy regions. In 1932, the family acquired the legendary Clos de Tart (a Grand Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis), which it owned until 2017. The négociant business was later transferred to the Boisset Group. Mommessin was, and remains, particularly renowned for its Beaujolais crus, including several Morgon vineyards.

Morgon and the 1966 vintage

Morgon ranks amongst the most structured and long-lived of the ten Beaujolais crus. The finest vineyards (particularly Côte du Py) are situated on weathered schist and volcanic soils and produce wines that, as they mature, often evoke Pinot Noir (‘morgonner’).

1966 was a good to very good vintage in Burgundy and Beaujolais, with favourable ripening conditions. The wines possessed sufficient structure and fruit to allow for prolonged development.

Character of the wine

A well-preserved 1966 Mommessin Morgon with a Tastevin label typically displays a mature, brick-red to mahogany colour. The bouquet is complex and tertiary: ripe cherry, dried plum, undergrowth, leather, subtle spicy notes and earthy undertones. On the palate, it is medium-bodied to full-bodied, with mellow tannins, preserved freshness and a long, spicy finish. Such old Morgons can come across as surprisingly elegant and ‘Burgundian’.

Significance today

Bottles of this kind are collector’s items and historical artefacts. They combine three elements:

• the tradition of the House of Mommessin,
• the quality philosophy of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin,
• and the ageing potential of the great Beaujolais crus of the 1960s.

Well-stored bottles offer a rare tasting experience and demonstrate just how long-lived and full of character Gamay from Morgon’s finest vineyards can be.