Domaine Lignier-Michelot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2020

The Lignier family have deep roots in the village of Morey Saint Denis and own 10.5 hectares of some of the very best vineyard sites in this village, and also in the 2 neighbouring villages Chambolle Musigny and Gevrey Chambertin. Virgile’s father and grand-father had always produced wine and sold it to negotiants until Virgile started working with his father in the early 1990’s and he decided to sell the wines himself. Now with almost 20 vintages of experience Virgile has moved the domaine to fully organic viticulture and is producing what many believe to be the best wines of this prestigious village. 

The fruit here is from a prized 0.74 hectare holding. 2020 was warm and dry with next to no disease pressure, resulting in deep, rich wines of great finesse and class. Winemaker Virgile has absolutely nailed it here. A textbook example of the old ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’ adage. It’s a theme across the 2020 releases but it has to be repeated - the marriage of power and finesse here is profound. Perfume, power, persistence. Very limited.  

The 2020 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru, which contains 70% whole bunch, has a flamboyant, pure and sensual bouquet with very floral violet and peony aromas complementing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, demonstrating a touch more precision than the Clos Saint-Denis though sharing that saline/marine influence finish. There is just a little more pixelation here. This oozes class. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media, December 2021, 95-97 Points 

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Other - Organic, Vegan Friendly
Closure - Cork