Domaine Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis

« We aspire to make authentic and sensual wines
that express their own terroir. »

Laurent Lignier

A high-level family Domaine in
Morey-Saint-Denis

In the vineyards,
respect of nature

Our vineyard is mainly composed of old vines planted through massale selections, with the oldest dating back to 1936. Since the 1990s, we have embraced soil cultivation practices such as plowing and hoeing, excluding the use of herbicides and insecticides.

At the estate, a conscientious approach to both the vines and the surrounding environment, as well as the preservation of biodiversity, is carefully considered. This becomes even more crucial considering our impact on the vineyard in the face of climate change.

Since 2006, the estate has been following organic practices, and in 2016, Laurent initiated the “AB” (Agriculture Biologique) certification process, which was officially certified in 2019. This adaptation to climate change naturally urges us to modify our working methods, especially in the vineyard. We are moving forward by implementing practices such as:

Shredding vine shoots,
Prophylactic methods,
Using organic manure or compost sourced from a local farm,
Planting leguminous seeds between vine rows,
Introducing co-plantations of young plants or grafting,
Pruning higher and with a more regulated frequency,
Engaging in mass selection from our own old vines.

It is our responsibility to respect the surrounding heritage and learn to adapt to these new challenges for which we may not yet have all the solutions.

In the cellar,
patience is key

For both the vinification and aging processes, our methods are minimally interventionist. The quality of the fruit is the essential foundation for crafting our wines.

We produce wines that combine freshness, finesse, and elegance while maintaining a solid structure with substance and a savory length on the palate. Each of our appellations, primarily located in Côte de Nuits (Clos de la Roche, Morey-St-Denis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-St-Georges), and also some in Côte de Beaune (Pommard, Monthelie, Volnay), faithfully expresses its unique terroir.

After manual harvesting and careful sorting, the grapes are vinified in tanks and aged for nearly two years in oak barrels in our cellars. We intervene minimally in the vinification process, preserving a portion of whole clusters to bring balance and complexity. Pump-overs and punch-downs are performed harmoniously to extract delicate and silky tannins. Before barreling, the lees are selected and evenly distributed in each barrel, with a proportion of 20 to 30% new oak.

A lengthy aging process of around twenty months follows to allow the wines to mature patiently. They are then racked and bottled by gravity, without filtration or clarification. This long and patient work enables us to obtain balanced and refined wines with significant aging potential, while remaining relatively approachable at a young age.

"How to define Hubert Lignier style? Wines that bring pleasure, sometimes emotions, but never taste alike. Wines we enjoy tasting and drinking."

A family Domaine
for 6 générations

In the early 1885, Jacques Lignier, a team leader in a domain in the Côte de Nuits, acquires vine plots decimated by phylloxera. At the beginning of the 20th century, his son Jules Lignier assists his father in replanting new vines, establishing a true viticultural heritage that he then passes on to his three sons: Georges, Maurice, and Henri.

Henri, like his two other brothers, develops his own estate to reach 4.5 hectares of vineyards by 1960. Amidst his vines, he preserves numerous fruit trees. The work is, of course, manual, with only horses supporting the hard labor of that time.

Hubert, his eldest son, takes over the operation in 1959 and expands it over the years through the purchase of new plots or consolidation with neighbors. His expertise in vineyard management and winemaking improves the quality of the wines. In 1973, amidst an economic crisis, he introduces on-site bottling.

Hubert and Françoise have three children, and it is Romain, the youngest, who joins his father on a 7.5-hectare estate in 1992. With Hubert, Romain introduces soil cultivation practices. With meticulous winemaking, the estate gains recognition. However, Romain tragically passes away at the age of 34.

In 2004, his brother Laurent steps in to support their parents, Hubert and Françoise, during this difficult period. Laurent decides in 2007 to eliminate all synthetic products to lead the estate to organic certification in 2019.

Françoise, who provided significant support to Hubert in the vineyards and during harvests, passes away in 2018. Under Laurent’s leadership, the estate moves to a new cellar in 2008 in Morey-Saint-Denis, at 13 Route Nationale. The estate expands to reach a surface of 11 hectares in 2020. Hubert’s expertise and Laurent’s winemaking style continue to propel the wines towards greater delicacy and precision.

Today, the passion for the profession continues to be passed on with the gradual arrival of Sébastien and Maëlle…