Please see here for part I of my notes on Lignier’s 2018 wines and background on vintage conditions.
2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Chabiots
Dark fruits, fuller body, smooth, elegant, spicy, sensual. From purchased grapes; 1/3 whole clusters, 1/3 new oak. (92-93)
2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes
Spicy red and dark berry fruits, nice structure, good finesse, lightness on the palate. Precision, elegance. Estate wine. (92-94)
2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru La Riotte
Spicy dark berry fruit in nose and mouth, intense, don’t sense the 14,5º alcohol. Freshness to the fruit, no heat on finish. Old vines. Estate wine. (91-94)
2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots
Pure, fresh, precise dark berry fruits, smooth texture, light on palate, long. Half of vineyard is farmed biodynamically as an experiment. Laurent says that he has seen some differences in the biodynamic sector; to be followed in the coming years. Planted 1968, clay and gravel soils. 13.4º alcohol. Estate wine. (92-94)
2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru vieilles vignes
Dark plum fruits, round, intense, perhaps more material here than in the foregoing. Smooth texture, good freshness, some spice. Fruit quality reminds of Clos de la Roche. Estate wine. (92-94)
2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes
Dark cherry fruit, intense, rich, round, deep, plenty of material. High-quality tannins. Estate wine. (92-94)
2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Didiers
Red fruits, elegant, light on palate, long, well-defined. Still has some oak influences. From wine in barrel purchased at the Hospices des Nuits. This is the Cuvée Cabet (there is another Didiers cuvée at the auction), but it will not be so indicated on the label. (91-94)
2018 Griotte-Chambertin
Elegant, pure, red cherry, good structure for vintage, good freshness. Needs some time before ready. From purchased grapes. (93-95)
2018 Charmes-Chambertin
Slight gaminess characteristic of Mazoyères (which is where the vines are located), dark fruits, pure, precise, elegant for Mazoyères, good freshness for vintage. Estate wine.(93-95)
2018 Clos de la Roche
Was hailed in 2017. Dark fruits smooth, ripe. Finesse, not the usual nervosity, tension, and penetration, but still very attractive. Half the vineyard is now in biodynamie. From the Monts Luisants and Les Fremières lieux-dits. (94-96)
2018 Clos de la Roche Cuvée MCMLV
This is a micro-cuvée, an homage to Laurent’s grandfather, Henri Lignier, who planted the vines in the Monts Luisants lieu-dit in 1955 with massale selection. Three barrels in 2018, 2 in 2017; different label from the rest of the wines, 1/3 new wood. Old vine richness, dark fruits, intense, fresh, pure. Long, deep, wild. (95-96)