2019 Clos Saint-Denis, Grand Cru, Domaine Lignier-Michelot, Burgundy

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Clos-Saint-Denis wines are highly esteemed, hailing from a renowned Grand Cru vineyard in the Burgundy wine region of France. Situated in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis within the Côte de Nuits sub-region, these red wines, primarily crafted from Pinot Noir grapes, showcase elegance, refinement, and a harmonious balance of fruit, structure, and complexity.

Virgile Lignier has worked alongside his father since 1988, really taking charge from 2000 by which time all the wines were being bottled at the domaine. Significant advances were made in the vineyards, reducing yields and ploughing the soil, along with the introduction of a sorting table and a higher percentage of new wood in the cellar. Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.