MOREY SAINT DENIS

2016 1er Cru Les Chenevery Domaine Lignier-Michelot

EN PRIMEUR

The vines here are really on the rock - proper hard Limestone. (So Virgile picks later to add ripeness to the fruit, like with Rue de Vergy) Fruit is still crisper, a super mineral element is clean and firm and bright on the attack, a harder middle, with a good richness to the fruit, but some cherry skin and grippier dry notes. Very impressive intense, powerful and super push. Impressive.L&S (Oct 2017)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

(40% whole cluster). An elegant and intensely floral nose flashes notes of both red and dark raspberry along with background wisps of spice and earth. The succulent, round and delicious medium weight plus flavors possess excellent mid-palate concentration before concluding in a beautifully lingering finish. The intensity definitely builds from the mid-palate on back and overall this is a refined wine that delivers really good power. Patience.*Sweet Spot*. Drinking range: 2028 - Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2018)

(13.4% alcohol; 41 hectoliters per hectare produced from vines with cordon en royat trellising; vinified with 80% whole clusters): Deep medium red. Soil-driven scents of redcurrant, raspberry, spices, mocha and leather; there's something almost claret-like about this. Then quite rich and penetrating in the mouth, conveying strong saline minerality and real punch. The firm, powerful back end features a solid spine of tannins and a positive dryness. Conveys a strong impression of terroir character and the vinosity for a leisurely evolution in bottle. Lignier did only two pigeages for this wine, as he feels that it already had enough structure from its active calcaire soil. Drinking range: 2023 - 2034 Rating: 91 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jan 2018)

The 2016 Morey St Denis 1er Cru les Cheneverys, with 50% whole-bunch fruit, has a more high-toned bouquet than the other Morey premier crus, perhaps trying a bit too hard to make an impression after the exquisite Faconnières. It actually begins to gain more composure with aeration, offering attractive orange blossom scents that complement the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, great depth and cohesion, solid structure and a very precise finish. This is a brilliant Morey-Saint-Denis that should offer two decades of drinking fulfillment. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 2017)

Impressive intensity. Black cherry, white flowers and white pepper. This is succulent. It has depth and intensity. There is layering, power and complexity. Minerality and depth of fruit. There are floral notes and minerality on the finish is very long. Excellent Morey 1er cru. Rating: 18.65 Sarah Marsh MW, The Burgundy Briefing (Nov 2017)

A domaine of 11 hectares, 25% regionals, 50% Villages, 20% Premiers crus and 5% Grands Crus. Virgile Lignier worked at the domaine with his father Maurice from 1988, beginning to bottle some of the wine from 1992 (it had previously been sold to the négoce), taking over in 2000, which was the vintage when he first bottled all the domaine's production.

In the vineyard Virgile made significant changes, stopping the use of herbicides, and beginning to plough instead. Green harvesting to limits yields followed, along with greater attention to grape selection. The domaine works organically except in extremis.

The wines have a lovely combination of enough body and richness, combined with a lively clarity of expression. The old vines village cuvées are seriously good, and great value too. Going up the scale each site seems to speak very clearly of its source and there is a brightness and energy along with full, seamless fruit.

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STORAGE OPTIONS:

Wines bought en primeur are scheduled to arrive in the UK over the course of the next eighteen months. If you do not wish to take home delivery, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our primeurs team for more information.

While helpful, we do not require a firm commitment on delivery destination to process your primeur order at this stage. Our team will be in contact with you when your wines arrive in the UK to confirm the necessary delivery details.

BURGUNDY EN PRIMEUR FAQ

OFFER: All wines are offered subject to availability and final confirmation.

PRICING: All prices are quoted IN BOND ex-VAT, by the case size stated. Please double check that the desired case size does match what is being offered as wines are variously listed in threes, sixes, dozens, halves and larger formats.

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