Hubert Lignier : Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" Grand cru 2019

A Morey-Saint-Denis Grand Cru Shaped by Precision, Structure and Freshness from Hubert Lignier

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2019 Hubert Lignier

Tasting

Nose

The nose opens on a vivid fruit register of raspberry and plum, quickly joined by darker, more savory notes of black truffle and lightly smoked meats. A loamy, earthy undertone brings depth, while delicate peony blossoms and a touch of candied orange zest lend the bouquet an unexpected brightness and floral lift, giving this cuvée a particularly expressive and refined aromatic signature.

Palate

The palate is full, layered and velvety, built on fine, powdery tannins supported by lively acidity. The texture is remarkably silky, with a seamless, almost filigree-like structure that favors elegance over sheer power, reflecting a moderate alcohol level of 13.6%. The finish is long and penetrating, carrying a satiny, caressing quality that lingers gracefully on the palate.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de la Roche pairs beautifully with roasted game birds and venison served with reduced sauces, as well as with roasted duck or other refined poultry dishes. Its fine tannins and bright acidity also make it a fitting companion for dishes featuring forest mushrooms or delicate sauces built around a touch of citrus.

Serving and cellaring

The Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2019 benefits from generous decanting when served young, allowing its aromas to unfold fully and its tannins to soften. Thanks to its fine structure and lively acidity, this wine is built for extended cellaring, continuing to develop additional complexity over time.

Other characteristics

This cuvée displays a moderate alcohol level of 13.6%, lower than the estate's standard Clos de la Roche, reflecting the altitude and cooler character of the Monts Luisants plot. Production is extremely limited, estimated at around four to six hundred bottles per year, underscoring its rarity within the domaine's range.

The Estate

Hubert Lignier is a family-run estate located in Morey-Saint-Denis, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Officially established around 1880, the property has been passed down through five generations and is today led by Laurent Lignier, alongside his father Hubert. Known for its meticulous, low-intervention winemaking and organic viticulture, the domaine has built a strong reputation across Morey-Saint-Denis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges, with Clos de la Roche standing as its historic flagship cru.

The Vineyard

The Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" comes from the historic Monts Luisants plot, planted in 1955 by Henri Lignier and considered the genetic origin of the entire estate. The vines grow at high density on a thin layer of soil covering fractured limestone bedrock, forcing roots deep into the rock in search of water and minerals. This elevated, stony site produces small, millerandage berries with thick skins, yielding concentrated, mineral-driven fruit, and the plot is cultivated using biodynamic methods.

Winemaking and aging

The Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2019 is vinified in a traditional manner, with roughly 30% whole clusters and a twenty-day maceration in stainless steel tanks, relying solely on indigenous yeasts without any added cultured strains. After pressing, the wine is aged on its lees for twenty-one months in oak barrels, with a carefully measured proportion of new wood sourced from four different cooperages. Bottling is done by gravity, without fining or filtration, and each bottle is finished with a hand-applied wax seal.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.