"Clos de la Roche" Grand Cru AOC 2022 3000ml Doppel-Magnum
A rare Pinot Noir masterpiece from Burgundy, vinified from old vines in this Grand Cru. In the 3000ml Double Magnum, this organically grown Pinot Noir matures into a wine of cool precision and aristocratic depth.
Bottler: Domaine Hubert Lignier, 13, Route Nationale 74, 21220 Morey Saint Denis / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep, concentrated ruby red with garnet reflections at the rim, dense yet luminous.
Nose
Intense notes of black cherries, ripe wild raspberries and violets, underpinned by fine undergrowth nuances, a hint of black tea and subtle, well-integrated spice.
Palate
Powerful and dense on the palate with silky, fine-grained tannins; the cool dark berry fruit meets mineral precision and a long, clear finish.
Character
A wine of aristocratic structure and cool elegance – finely delineated, precise and built for longevity, with the concentration of ancient vines and the finesse of great Burgundian tradition.
Pairing
Roasted pigeon with truffle jus, beef fillet in red wine sauce or aged Époisses de Bourgogne.
Notes
Vinified from old vines in the Clos de la Roche; organically grown and gently matured in the gravity-fed cellar without pumps, with a reduced proportion of new wood for maximum clarity and terroir expression.
Tasting note
Character
A Grand Cru of cool precision and linear depth – this is how the estate itself describes its signature style. Cool fruit, fine-grained tannins and a long, clear finish define this Pinot Noir, which focuses on structure and definition rather than opulent richness. The double magnum underscores the stature of this wine: large formats mature more slowly, preserve freshness for longer and lend an additional dimension to the already complex aromatics.
Terroir & Origin
The Clos de la Roche is located in Morey-Saint-Denis in the heart of the Côte de Nuits. Domaine Hubert Lignier has been rooted in this village since the 1880s; today, Laurent Lignier runs the estate as the fifth generation. Particularly defining are twenty-seven rows of vines in the Monts Luisants climat at the upper edge of the vineyard site, planted in 1955 by Henri Lignier. These old vines – the genetic origin of the entire estate – are prone to millerandage and produce tiny, often seedless berries of enormous concentration. Since 2017, they have been bottled separately as the “MCMLV” cuvée; the classic Clos de la Roche remains the heart of the estate.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pinot Noir in its archetypal Burgundian form. The estate has been organically certified since 2019; synthetic treatments disappeared from the vineyards as early as 2007. The cellar, built in 2008, relies solely on gravity – no pump ever touches the wine. Fermentation is preceded by long, cool maceration periods; the proportion of whole bunches has increased over the years. New oak has been deliberately reduced and spread across four coopers so that no single cask dominates the wine. The result: finely structured, precisely delineated Pinots designed for length and clarity.
Food Pairings
The cool structure and fine tannin line of this Grand Cru call for dishes of similar precision and earthiness. Roe deer saddle with juniper jus and cep mushrooms echoes the wine’s woodland aromatics. Duck breast – roasted pink, with a cherry jus – mirrors the fruit of the Pinot Noir. Guinea fowl with truffle or a simple chicken stew with mushrooms and bacon also find a worthy counterpart here. For a vegetarian option, try Jerusalem artichokes with hazelnuts and sage – the earthy notes of the wine meet kindred flavours on the plate.
