The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis En La Rue de Vergy, comes from 50-year-old vines and is blended with 70% whole bunches. It has an intense nose, a mélange of red/black fruit, hints of kirsch and rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied with shimmering red berry fruit, a fine bead of acidity, silky smooth with a surfeit of tension on the finish. What is not to like about this Morey-Saint-Denis? Very little. - Neal Martin, Vinous 

Virgile Lignier, together with Bruno Clair and Christophe Perrot-Minot, has made this lieu-dit just above Bonnes Mares rather famous. The steeper gradient and sparer soil  yield a more lifted, more aérien wine than its grand cru neighbor. In 2019 - as usual - ’Rue de Vergy’ is the wine that most obviously reveals the imprint of Virgile’s whole-cluster style: the site confers finesse rather than power and serves as a wonderfully willing platform for effusively expressive whole-cluster character.  Morey’s pound-for-pound king? - Jason

Heading domaine Lignier-Michelot, Virgile Lignier has been turning out suave, polished and intense Burgundies for the past couple of decades to remarkably little fanfare. Recent vintages have been particularly impressive; the concentration of ripe fruit, judicious use of new oak and savvy inclusion of whole cluster have produced great results for a producer with particularly enviable holdings in Morey and its environs.

‘En la Rue de Vergy’ located as it is above Clos de Tart and Bonnes Mares, is regularly amongst the most impressive bottlings at the domaine. The vines, planted in 1974, sit in a thin topsoil of marl above the limestone bedrock. This cuvée usually sees about 30% new oak and between 30% and 70% whole cluster inclusion.

The 2019 offers high-toned black fruit with a touch of attractive oak spice. On the palate there’s violet pastille and a notably velvety texture. There’s a rich mid-palate along with freshness and tension through the red and black fruit. A sinewy and satisfying cuvée that will doubtless age superbly- it’s so attractive and hedonistic now thought, why wait?

Cheers,

- Spencer