"Clos de la Roche" Grand Cru AOC 2022 1500ml Magnum
A great Pinot Noir from Morey-Saint-Denis in Burgundy, produced by a family estate with five generations of experience — presented in a noble 1500 ml magnum, ideal for ageing.
Bottler: Domaine Hubert Lignier, 13, Route Nationale 74, 21220 Morey Saint Denis / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep ruby red with garnet reflections.
Nose
Dark cherry and forest berries, accompanied by floral notes of violet, fine spice, a hint of undergrowth and subtle roasted nuances from the judicious use of wood.
Palate
Cool, clear fruit, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity — densely built, precisely defined and with a long, precise finish.
Character
A Burgundy of cool clarity and depth — finely structured rather than opulent, designed for length and elegance, with great potential for development in the magnum bottle.
Pairing
Pigeon breast on lentils, herb-roasted duck, truffle risotto or a hearty mushroom stew.
Notes
The estate’s flagship vineyard site from old vines — organically produced (certified since 2019), vinified in a gravity-flow cellar without pumps and aged with restraint in new wood so that the Grand Cru fruit remains centre stage.
Tasting note
Character
A Grand Cru of cool clarity and finely delineated structure – this is perhaps the most apt way to describe the signature style of the Lignier house. Dark cherry, forest fruit and floral notes meet fine-grained tannins and a long, clear finish. This is not a wine of loud opulence, but one of patient depth: finely built, designed for length, with the quiet authority that distinguishes the great vineyard sites of Burgundy. In magnum format, the wine also develops particularly slowly and steadily – a reward for anyone who gives it time.
Terroir & Origin
Clos de la Roche is considered the heart of Morey-Saint-Denis on the Côte de Nuits – a Grand Cru whose limestone-rich, stony soils yield Pinot Noir of mineral tension. The Lignier family has cultivated parcels here for generations; their oldest vines in the Monts Luisants climat at the upper edge of the vineyard site have been rooted there since 1955, descending from the vines Henri Lignier planted at the time. These old vines bear tiny, concentrated berries – the foundation for wines of exceptional density.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Pure Pinot Noir, produced organically – the domaine has held organic certification since 2019, and synthetic treatments disappeared from the vineyards back in 2007. Laurent Lignier, who runs the estate in its fifth generation, vinifies with great care: the cellar, moved into in 2008, operates entirely by gravity, without a single pump. A long, cool maceration before fermentation, an increasing proportion of whole bunches and deliberately restrained new wood – spread across casks from four coopers – ensure that the fruit remains in the foreground and the terroir speaks unobscured.
Food Pairings
This combination of fine acidity, silky tannins and cool fruit calls for dishes of similar nobility: duck breast with cherries, partridge or a game terrine. Coq au vin, braised leg of lamb or a mushroom dish such as porcini ragout are also classic kindred spirits. Those who prefer something simpler might reach for a mature Époisses or Comté. A wine that elevates the table – yet remains modest enough to leave pride of place to the food.
