2017 Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Magnum 1.5l, Burgundy

Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is a deeply classical and authoritative expression of one of Burgundy’s most storied vineyards, coming from a domaine whose roots in the Côte de Nuits run back generations. Clos Vougeot itself is a vast walled Grand Cru sitting between Chambolle Musigny and Vosne Romanée, planted originally by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages. Its complex mosaic of soils ranges from deep clay in the lower sections to far stonier limestone higher up the slope, and it is these upper parcels that produce the most refined and age worthy wines. The Lignier holding sits in a well regarded part of the Clos, where limestone influence brings structure, freshness and aromatic lift rather than sheer weight. Hubert Lignier was a firm believer in traditional viticulture and respectful winemaking, and today his son Laurent Lignier continues that philosophy with a calm, precise hand, focusing on purity, balance and fidelity to site.

The domaine works old vines with naturally low yields, farming thoughtfully and vinifying with restraint. Fermentations are gentle, extraction is measured, and oak is used carefully to support the wine rather than dominate it. This approach allows Clos Vougeot’s true character to emerge, combining power with detail rather than excess. In the glass the wine shows a deep ruby to garnet colour, opening slowly with layered aromas of black cherry, dark plum, rose petal and violets, followed by notes of spice, iron, forest floor and subtle game. The palate is broad yet finely structured, delivering dense red and dark fruit, firm but polished tannins and a long, savoury finish driven by limestone minerality. There is a sense of quiet authority here, a wine that unfolds gradually and rewards patience rather than immediate impact.

This is a Clos Vougeot built for the long haul, pairing beautifully with roast duck, beef, game, mushroom dishes and truffle rich cuisine. With time in the cellar it evolves magnificently over twenty years or more, gaining complexity through notes of leather, dried flowers, earth and spice while retaining its core of freshness and structure. Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is a wine of tradition, place and restraint, offering a refined and deeply Burgundian take on one of the Côte de Nuits’ most famous vineyards.