2006 Morey St Denis En la Rue de Vergy
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Tasting notes
Despite having been grown at high above the village, the grapes that informed Lignier's 2006 Morey-St.-Denis En La Rue De Vergy were his first-picked and had already reached nearly 14% alcohol, which shows up in the wine as a bit of finishing heat. That said, this combines sweetly ripe fresh cherry and black raspberry fruit accompanied by a distillate-like shadow with smoked meat and high-toned sassafras. Hints of tar and game add complexity on a sappy, well-concentrated palate, and this finishes invigoratingly – even brashly – if with a touch of tannic roughness. I don't pick it to be for long-keeping and would be inclined to plan on drinking it over then next 3-5 years. Virgile Lignier shared the surprise expressed by many growers at how steadily the 2006s improved in the course of their elevage. He experienced only a 15% drop in net yield vis-a-vis 2005, noting that most of the fruit he discarded was what had suffered from hail rather than succumbed to rain and rot. Becky Wasserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet; fax 011-333-80-24-29-70
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good full, bright red. Musky strawberry, brown spices and nutty oak on the nose, plus a whiff of minerality missing in the Chambolle Vieilles Vignes. Supple, creamy and sweet; not especially complex but pliant and approachable, with smoother tannins. Lignier notes that this and the Chambolle Vieilles Vignes were less marked by oak before they were bottled.
Good deep red. Musky aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, blueberry, smoked meat and brown spices. In a distinctly sweet, gentle style, with a rather soft structure and an impression of high pH. Good mid-palate texture and richness though. Lignier notes that this wine always finishes its sugar fermentation in the barrel, which gives it a fatter quality.
Lively and very true and fruity. Bit tough on the finish, but great energy. (JR)