Born into a family which had produced several generations of wine growers , Michel MAGNIEN created a large part of the domaine between 1967 and 1991, with the acquisition of numerous plots in the finest climats of the Côte de Nuits. Frédéric Magnien, representing the 5th generation, joined the family domaine situated in Morey-Saint-Denis, in 1993, and is working towards the bottling of the entire production. The domaine now covers 19 hectares with some 20 appellations, including exceptional wines: Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Charmes-Chambertin as well as several Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis and Chambolle-Musigny Premier Crus. Since the 2013 vintage, all the domaine’s wines are certified organic by Ecocert. In addition, all the vines are worked according to biodynamic principles. The aim of biodynamics is to energize and build organic life in the environment in which the vine lives.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

First mentioned as far back as 1120, fourteenth century Morey was a place of asylum for Cistercian monks who appeared to have possessed numerous vineyards and even a winery by 1306. The appellation extends from Chambolle-Musigny to Gevrey-Chambertin and covers around 148 hectares, 80% of which are planted with grapes for red wines. In the 19th century, Clos de la Roche vineyard only covered “4 hectares 57 ares 40″. When the AOC was created in 1936, it grew to around 15 hectares as it included the local areas known as” Les Mochamps”, “Les Froichots”, “Les Fremières”, “Les Chabiots” and the lower part of “Monts Luisant”s. In 1971 the area increased to nearly 17 hectares when “Les Genavrières” was added.

Our plot is located next to Clos Saint Denis in the upper part of the village. The vine is planted on brown limestone soils, on the bedrock.

Wines are increasingly aged in Terracotta amphorae in 2 formats for all their wines. Morey St Denis half in oak barrels. After one year, the wines are racked to tanks to free the amphorae for the next vintages.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru gives the biggest and most structured wine of Morey-Saint-Denis’ five grand crus thanks to its meager top soil and limestone bedrock. The vines here are in contact with the rock, resulting in a muscular wine with intense flavors of fruit and minerals. The wine is a pure expression of its terroir thanks to its élevage in a combination of used oak and clay jars.

Deep color and an intense aroma of dark fruit suggest a wine of volume and concentration. Black cherries, licorice, and sandalwood combine with floral and herbal notes on the nose. Rich and concentrated fruit flavors on the palate are accompanied by firm tannins and a lingering mineral finish.

Wine & Spirits – 96 points (2017)

This domaine includes a parcel within Clos de la Roche, adjacent to Clos St-Denis, planted on brown limestone soils where the vines give a powerful grand cru wine. Frédéric Magnien included 29 percent whole clusters in the fermentation of this wine, aging 46 percent of the lot in terra cotta amphora, the balance in old François Frères oak barrels. This 2017 is walled off by the intensity of its red fruit, integrated into the mineral intensity of the tannins. A hint of lifted floral spice develops over the course of several days as the texture turns suave, but the wine still speaks more about structure than flavor. It’s sleek and vibrant, with energy that converts the refined scent of oak barrels into the kind of spice that only adds bliss to the wine itself.