Domaine Virgile Lignier-Michelot : Clos de la Roche Grand cru 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2022 from Domaine Virgile Lignier-Michelot

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a deep, intense purple hue with bright red highlights and fine clarity.

Nose
The nose reveals a bouquet of great purity, with red and black fruits such as raspberry, cherry and blueberry. It then opens onto notes of citrus zest and sweet spices, along with mineral touches reminiscent of wet stone and subtle hints of embers.

Palate
Concentrated and harmonious, the palate offers a dense texture supported by chalky, well-integrated tannins. The acidity brings a lovely tension that stretches into a long, savoury finish marked by spicy notes and a delicate, almond-like bitterness.

Food and Wine Pairings

This red wine is an ideal match for fine red meats such as roast beef fillet or rack of lamb, as well as game birds like roast pigeon with a reduced jus. It also pairs beautifully with traditional dishes such as coq au vin, wild mushroom garnishes, or pressed cheeses like a young Comté.

Serving and Ageing

To fully appreciate this Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2022, it is best served at 15–16°C after decanting for one hour. This wine can be enjoyed from the mid-2020s and will continue to develop favourably until around 2040.

Other Characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 14% ABV and stands out for its ethical approach, as the estate uses no animal-derived fining agents for clarification.

The Authentic Expression of a Burgundy Grand Cru

The Estate

Located in the heart of Burgundy, in Morey-Saint-Denis, Domaine Virgile Lignier-Michelot was officially established in the late 1990s, around 1999, marking the move to bottling its entire production at the estate. Now run by Laure and Virgile Lignier, this family estate covers 12 hectares. It stands out for its environmentally respectful approach, inspired by organic farming, and for precise winemaking aimed at expressing the purity of the fruit. The estate is renowned for its prestigious terroirs spread across the Côte de Nuits.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this Clos de la Roche come from the Genavrières and Monts Luisants lieux-dits, located on the slopes of Morey-Saint-Denis. This terroir rests on predominantly limestone and stony soils, complemented by layers of clay. The vineyard is farmed without synthetic herbicides, with mechanical soil cultivation and rigorous yield control to promote the natural concentration of the berries.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage was marked by generally hot, dry weather conditions in France. However, sufficient water reserves helped prevent extreme drought, yielding rich, concentrated grapes that nonetheless retained fine balance and remarkable freshness.

Winemaking and Ageing

Following meticulous sorting, the vinification of this Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2022 includes around 60% whole clusters. Fermentations benefit from precise temperature control for a gentle extraction. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, with a moderate proportion of new wood, for 12 to 15 months, followed by a few months in stainless steel tanks. It is bottled without fining or filtration.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir