Virgile Lignier worked with his father from 1988, taking full charge of the domaine in 2000. A huge amount of work has been done by Virgile in recent years: ploughing the soil, reducing yields with increased green harvesting, and stopping the use of chemicals.
Lignier Michelot has long been a domaine we adore, the wines are beautifully pure and terroir driven. Virgile only uses 30% new oak in his cuvees to accentuate the specific vineyard character.
Added to the glorious Pinot in the bottle, the prices we believe are superb. Great value red burgundy at its finest.
We are delighted to offer a selection of Virgile’s excellent 2017s for sale, including some rare large formats of Clos de la Roche. For those looking for drinking wine, we have some superb magnums of 2013 En La Rue de Vergy - perfect for now...
2017 Clos de la Roche, Lignier Michelot
£775 per 6 bottes IB
£795 per 3 magnums IB
£595 per 300cl jeroboam IB
92-94 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2017 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is matured with 80% whole bunch fruit. It has a very precise, intense bouquet of blackberry, leather, sous-bois and light iris aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a relatively linear and prudent Clos de la Roche that does not want to let its hair down, but feels reassuringly correct and precise on the finish. Very fine and understated. Drink 2022-2040.
2017 Morey St Denis Les Faconnieres, Lignier Michelot
£295 per 6 IB
92-94 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Faconnières 1er Cru, which Virgile Lignier aptly describes as a Petit Clos de la Roche, shows the same brooding intensity as the Aux Charmes, offering blackberry, wild hedgerow and crushed stone aromas and traces of moorland and heather. The slightly chalky palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, and there is fine acidity and real energy on the finish. I like the persistence and depth here. Superb. Drink 2023-2037.
2017 Morey St Denis Les Chenevery, Lignier Michelot
£295 per 6 IB
90-92 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Chenevery 1er Cru, matured with 70% whole bunch fruit, has a more open bouquet than the Faconnières. Flinty, almost charcoal-like aromas filter through the black fruit. The palate is well balanced with some of the finest tannins from the domaine. Full of tension and lighter on its feet than the Faconnières, with a more elegant and refined finish if not quite the same complexity. Drink 2022-2037.
2017 Morey St Denis En La Rue de Vergy, Lignier Michelot
£165 per 6 IB
88-90 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis en la Rue de Vergy, matured with 70% whole bunches, has a classy, well-defined blackberry and raspberry nose that reveals traces of tobacco and tar. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit and hints of orange essence and apricot. The fleshy, nubile finish suggests this will be perfect for early drinking. Drink 2020-2027.
For drinking now:
2013 Morey, En La Rue de Vergy, Lignier Michelot
£167 per 3 magnums duty & VAT paid
88 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2013 Morey Saint Denis en la Rue de Vergy includes 30% whole-cluster fruit. It has a very expressive bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, fine mineralité and a hint of blood orange lending freshness and vitality. The palate is sweet on the entry with fleshy ripe red berry fruit that belie the structure underneath.