Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis Aux Chezeaux 1er Cru 2022 (750ML)

94-96 JM / 91-93 VM / 91-93 WA / 90-93 BH / 17.5 JR

Last vintage before the owner takes the vineyard back. Bright mid purple with a darker centre. This is exquisitely balanced with a lifted dark red fruit, raspberries and blue berries and excellent length. A superb finale for this interesting vineyard. 100% whole bunch vinification. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted: November 2023. Five Stars—Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

The 2022 Morey-Saint-Denis Aux Chezeaux 1er Cru, including 100% whole bunches, will be the last vintage as the contract is ending. The stems are quite prominent on the nose and slightly overshadow the terroir expression at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry and veins of blue fruit. It is a little powdery in texture with a refined finish, so much so that there's a little tear in my eye, thinking this is the last time we'll meet. Very fine. -- Neal Martin

Lignier produced four barrels of the 2022 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Aux Chezeaux, a deep and complete wine redolent of wild berries, vine smoke, orange zest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with powdery tannins and a sapid finish, it's built to age with grace.—William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Note: from a .40 ha holding in the more desirable upper portion of the vineyard; 80% whole cluster; Lignier noted that 2022 will be the last vintage for this wine as he's losing the lease
Tasting note: Subtle but not imperceptible wood can be found on the expressive and earthy nose of mostly purple fruit, spice and pretty floral top notes. There is again a lovely texture to the medium-bodied flavors thanks to the abundant sap that imparts a seductive mouthfeel to the solidly powerful, balanced and dusty finale. This is sufficiently compact to need all of a decade to fully mature yet the sappy texture should also for relatively early accessibility if that's your preference. Outstanding.—Allen Meadows, Burghound

Deepish crimson. A great example of the combination of spice and fragrance in Morey. Firm, dark, dry yet still scented. A lovely, mouth-watering, long finish. –Julia Harding MW, Jancis Robinson