2024 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Genavrières, Domaine Lignier-Michelot

• Style: Dry, medium-bodied red Burgundy; Pinot Noir, 13% ABV, premier cru, organically farmed
• Taste: Lifted red cherry and raspberry, savoury depth, firm Côte de Nuits structure, fresh acidity
• Food: Roast chicken, morels in cream, pink or braised beef, game, charcuterie and soft cheeses
• Critic: 94 points, Jasper Morris MW (Inside Burgundy)
• Occasion: A gift for Burgundy lovers or a winter dinner party; drinks now, improves over a few years
• Serve: Decant briefly and pour at cellar temperature; enjoy its primary fruit on release

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Les Genavrières sits among the premier cru vineyards of Morey-Saint-Denis, the Côte de Nuits village wedged between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, and this 2024 makes a persuasive case for the address. Lifted red cherry and raspberry open the nose, classic Pinot Noir from cool hillside slopes, resting on a savoury, firmly knit core with more sinew than Chambolle and less bulk than Gevrey. Dry and medium-bodied at 13% alcohol, the palate balances fresh acidity against fine-grained tannin, so each mouthful remains elegant rather than imposing. Jasper Morris MW gave it 94 points in Inside Burgundy, recognition that a bottle built for the table can also impress a demanding palate. Anyone seeking a 1er cru red Burgundy to open with friends rather than merely file away will find exactly that here, with enough structure to reward patience should you resist.

The Winery — Domaine Lignier-Michelot

Virgile Lignier is the man behind the label, and his path explains our enthusiasm. Both his father and grandfather grew grapes and made wine, yet everything went to négociants; Virgile began working alongside his father in the early 1990s, took charge in 2000 and chose to bottle under the family name instead. Almost two decades of harvests later, the vineyards are farmed fully organically and the domaine ranks among the most respected estates in the Côte de Nuits — many seasoned observers now consider his wines the finest made in this prestigious village. Organically tended 1er cru fruit handled by a grower at the top of his game: that pairing gives the 2024 its clarity and poise. Explore more from Domaine Lignier-Michelot across our shop, and if you are assembling a cellar of serious bottles from France, his other cuvées slot naturally alongside this one.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Food brings this wine fully to life. Morels in cream, a simply roasted chicken, beef served pink or slow-braised, game and venison, or a board of charcuterie with soft cheeses — Brie, Camembert, a nutty Gruyère — all sit happily against its bright acidity and gentle grip. Pour it young for the vivid primary fruit, or set a few bottles aside and let the savoury character deepen over the coming years; both routes reward you. As a present for a devotee of the region it carries real weight: a named vineyard, an organic grower and a critic's endorsement to back it up. Among the Medium Bodied Red Wine we stock it is a benchmark, and of all the red wine we suggest for a winter dinner party it ranks near the top. Bottles from a grower of this standing never linger on our shelves, so secure yours while this release remains available.