Presentation
In early 1885, Jacques Lignier, then a team leader at an estate in the Côte de Nuits, acquired parcels of vineyard devastated by phylloxera. In the early 20th century, his son Jules joined him to replant and rebuild the vineyard holdings, ultimately passing them on to his three sons: Georges, Maurice, and Henri. Like his brothers, Henri developed his own estate, which reached 4.5 hectares by 1960. He preserved many fruit trees amidst his vines, and all work was done manually with only a horse to assist in the hard labor of the time. In 1959, Henri’s eldest son Hubert took over the family estate and gradually expanded it through new acquisitions and land consolidations with neighboring plots. His expertise in both viticulture and winemaking significantly enhanced the quality of the wines. In 1973, during a period of economic crisis, he made the bold move to start bottling at the estate. Hubert and Françoise had three children, and in 1992, their youngest son Romain joined the estate, which had grown to 7.5 hectares. Together with Hubert, Romain introduced widespread soil tilling. Known for his rigorous winemaking methods, Romain helped elevate the domaine’s reputation. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 34. In 2004, his brother Laurent stepped in to support their parents during this difficult time. Determined to honor the family legacy, Laurent chose to eliminate all synthetic products starting in 2007, leading the domaine to organic certification in 2019. Françoise, who had long supported Hubert in the vineyard and during harvest, passed away in 2018. Under Laurent’s leadership, the domaine moved into a new cellar in Morey-Saint-Denis in 2008, located at 13 Route Nationale. By 2020, the estate had expanded to 11 hectares. Thanks to Hubert’s savoir-faire and Laurent’s precise winemaking style, the wines have continued to evolve toward greater finesse and purity. Today, the family passion lives on with the gradual involvement of the next generation: Sébastien and Maëlle.
Location
Parcel ideally located in the upper section of Charmes-Chambertin, directly adjacent to Chambertin itself.
Terroir
Deep brown limestone soils, rich in fine clays and gravel, providing concentration and complexity.
In the vineyard
Sustainable viticulture, meticulous manual work, and strictly controlled yields.
Harvest
Manual harvest with parcel-by-parcel sorting.
Winemaking
Partial destemming, long maceration with gentle punch-downs.
Ageing
Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% of which are new.
Varietal
Pinot Noir : 100%
Serving
Serving temperature: 16 to 18°C
Ageing potential
Over 15 years
Tasting
This Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru delivers a majestic expression of Pinot Noir, combining power, refinement, and depth. The robe is deep garnet. The nose is remarkably complex, offering notes of ripe black fruits, dried rose petals, incense, truffle, and elegant oak. On the palate, it impresses with its density and silky texture: the tannins are exceptionally fine, embracing a generous and noble body. The balance is commanding, driven by vibrant tension and a very persistent finish marked by mineral and spicy notes. An outstanding wine, reaching its peak after several years of cellaring.
Food pairings
This age-worthy Grand Cru calls for noble, flavorful dishes. It pairs beautifully with aged beef cuts, venison fillet in grand veneur sauce, or truffled Bresse chicken. For an elegant pairing, try it with porcini risotto or a game pie. As for cheese, favor long-aged pressed cheeses such as old Comté or traditional Salers. A celebratory wine, meant for exceptional cuisine.