2020 Lignier-Michelot ‘VV’ Morey Saint Denis
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.
In the last 10 years Virgile has modified his wine-making using whole-bunch vinification ranging from 30-100% depending on the vintage and the vineyard and he has also reduced the percentage of new oak (mostly Seguin-Moreau and Francois freres) for maturation with most wines seeing around 30% making its effect seamless in the final wines. He also completed a new winery in time for the 2013 vintage that now enables him to work with temperature control and to gain a very gentle extraction of tannins for all his wines. This results in wines showing great precision and energy with remarkable perfume and also beautiful fine tannins and very silky structure. They are wines which are often very seductive at a young age which also clearly have the potential for ageing superbly. This very young domaine is now regarded among the very best in the Cotes de Nuits.
Tasting Note:
A refined and structured expression of old-vine Pinot Noir from the heart of the Côte de Nuits. The nose opens with lifted aromas of wild strawberry, crushed raspberry, rose petal, and a touch of underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant, showing fine-grained tannins and a core of red cherry, blood orange, and subtle spice. Earthy undertones and a gentle mineral line provide depth, while well-integrated oak brings polish without overshadowing the fruit. Finishes long, savoury, and finely balanced. Drink now with decanting or cellar 8–12 years.
