Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Clos de la Roche 2019 Lucien Le Moine

Tasting

Color

The Clos de la Roche 2019 displays a deep, intense ruby color, typical of Pinot Noir grown on this grand cru terroir.

Nose

The nose reveals ripe strawberry notes, evolving into more tertiary nuances reminiscent of decaying leaves and fruit, layered with pronounced spice tones, subtle minty touches, and an underlying minerality.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a nice balance of red and black berries with a touch of sweetness, supported by good concentration and a generous spice character. The acidity is well-judged, the tannins are medium-plus and refined, while minerality remains perceptible throughout. The finish is long, carried by tangy berry notes and persistent tannins.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with hare à la royale, duck breast, or roasted veal, making it a true companion for elaborate, refined cuisine.

Serving and cellaring

No official cellaring information is available for the Clos de la Roche 2019 Lucien Le Moine.

The Estate

Lucien Le Moine is a small House of Grands Crus established in Beaune, Burgundy, in 1999. Founded and still run today by Mounir and Rotem Saouma, this micro-négociant operation is intentionally limited to around one hundred barrels per vintage, allowing the couple to personally oversee every cuvée. Mounir's background includes time at a Trappist monastery and oenology studies in Montpellier, while Rotem trained in viticulture in Israel and at ENESAD Dijon. Together, they built a reputation centered on purity, typicity, and a faithful expression of terroir, working hand in hand with trusted growers across the Côte d'Or.

The Vineyard

Clos de la Roche is a celebrated grand cru located in the commune of Morey-Saint-Denis, at the northern edge of the Côte de Nuits, close to the border with Gevrey-Chambertin. The terroir is marked by notably hard, rocky ground with limestone-marl soils and visible chalky outcrops, lending the wines their structure and minerality. Planted exclusively to Pinot Noir for the grand cru designation, this terroir is renowned for producing wines combining depth, power, and elegance.

The Vintage

The 2019 vintage in Burgundy is regarded as an excellent year, marked by significant grape maturity alongside well-preserved acidity. These conditions produced wines described as ample, silky, and full of delicacy, placing 2019 among the great vintages of the decade.

Winemaking and Aging

In keeping with the house style, the Clos de la Roche 2019 Lucien Le Moine is vinified from must sourced from a partner grower in Morey-Saint-Denis, using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in older barrels for an extended period of sixteen to twenty-four months without racking, resting continuously on its fine lees to build texture and complexity. Bottling is done by hand, using gravity, without fining or filtration, preserving the wine's natural character.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir