2017 Lignier-Michelot Morey St Denis Aux Cheseaux 1er Cru, Burgundy

The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Aux Chezeaux 1er Cru has a more candied bouquet than the Aux Charmes, with more red fruit, though still a little reduced. The palate is fleshy and caressing in texture, offering layers of lightly spiced, succulent red fruit and fanning out gently with hints of Moroccan spice toward the voluminous finish. Maybe earlier-drinking than the other Premier Crus from the domaine, but well-crafted.

90-92 points Neal Martin vinous.com Drink: 2020 - 2030 

2017 Domaine Lignier Michelot Morey Saint Denis Aux Cheseaux 1er Cru is a beautifully structured and quietly authoritative expression of Morey Saint Denis, coming from one of the village’s most underappreciated yet serious Premier Cru sites. Aux Cheseaux sits low on the slope close to the border with Chambolle Musigny, with deeper clay and limestone soils that give the wines more breadth, density and muscle than many of Morey’s higher parcels, while still retaining aromatic detail and freshness. In warmer vintages like 2017, this site excels, delivering concentration without heaviness and a distinctly grounded, savoury character.

Domaine Lignier Michelot is a long established family estate rooted in Morey Saint Denis for generations, now led by Virginie Lignier. The domaine has earned a reputation for consistency, integrity and faithful expressions of terroir, with meticulous vineyard work, low yields and a restrained hand in the cellar. Farming is attentive and traditional, harvest timing is carefully judged, and vinification favours gentle extraction and measured oak, allowing site character to come through clearly rather than being shaped by technique. The 2017 vintage was warm and even, producing wines of clarity, charm and balance across the Côte de Nuits.

In the glass Aux Cheseaux shows a deep ruby colour with vibrant clarity. Aromas are expressive and layered, offering black cherry, dark raspberry and red plum, supported by subtle floral notes, spice, forest floor and a gentle earthy tone. The palate is broader and more muscular than Les Faconnières, delivering dense red and dark fruit, fine grained tannins and a long, savoury finish with a mineral edge from the limestone rich soils. It pairs beautifully with roast duck, lamb, game and mushroom based dishes, and it has the structure to age confidently for fifteen to twenty years, developing truffle, leather and earthy complexity as it matures.

2017 Domaine Lignier Michelot Morey Saint Denis Aux Cheseaux 1er Cru is a serious and rewarding Burgundy, offering depth, structure and a strong sense of place while maintaining the balance and finesse that define the best wines of Morey Saint Denis.