Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2020 – Hubert Lignier

Tasting

Color

Color

This red wine displays a concentrated yet translucent ruby robe, hinting at the depth of fruit that lies within.

Nose

The nose is complex and layered, revealing dark and red fruit aromas intertwined with floral notes, truffle, and licorice. Earthy accents and a subtle touch of well-integrated oak add further nuance to this aromatic richness.

Palate

The palate unfolds with an ample yet refined structure, supported by velvety tannins. A pronounced mineral and saline character runs through the wine, leading to a remarkably long finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de la Roche pairs beautifully with white meats served in creamy, mushroom-based sauces, as well as with dishes built around truffle for an extra layer of complementary earthiness.

Serving and cellaring

Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2020 deserves careful decanting to allow its aromas to fully unfold. It is best enjoyed at a temperature of around 16 to 18°C (60 to 64°F).

Other characteristics

This wine is vinified with a portion of whole clusters and indigenous yeasts, then aged for an extended period on lees without filtration prior to bottling.

A Grand Cru Pinot Noir from the heart of Morey-Saint-Denis

The Estate

Hubert Lignier is a family-run estate in Burgundy whose winemaking history traces back to 1885, when Jacques Lignier began acquiring phylloxera-ravaged plots around Morey-Saint-Denis. Today at the helm of a vineyard covering roughly 11 hectares, Laurent Lignier, assisted by his parents Hubert and Françoise, continues a six-generation legacy. The estate is certified organic, with select parcels farmed biodynamically, and is particularly known for its holdings in Clos de la Roche Grand Cru.

The Vineyard

This wine comes from a tiny parcel of about a quarter hectare within the Monts Luisants climat of Clos de la Roche, planted in 1955 at a notably high density of 11,000 vines per hectare. The vines, now over 65 years old, grow on a thin, stony topsoil overlying a fissured limestone bedrock known locally as "dalle perlière," allowing roots to penetrate deep into the rock for natural drainage and mineral uptake. The parcel is prone to significant "millerandage," producing small, highly concentrated berries, and is bordered by an old limestone wall surrounded by wild scrubland that supports local biodiversity. This plot is farmed biodynamically.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage was vinified from fruit grown on this historic parcel, where extremely low yields of around 17 hectoliters per hectare were recorded, equivalent to roughly two barrels of wine.

Winemaking and aging

Clos de la Roche "MCMLV" 2020 is made from 100% pinot noir, partially vinified with whole clusters and fermented using indigenous yeasts. The wine then undergoes a long aging period on lees, without racking, before being bottled unfiltered to preserve its purity and texture.

Grape Variety

Pinot noir (100%)