Domaine Georges Lignier, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain
Domaine Georges Lignier, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Domaine Georges Lignier, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France 2019 (750mL)
Regular price$30.00
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Domaine Georges Lignier, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Today offers the unique chance to taste Burgundy’s famed two red grapes in a single bottle, from one of the region’s legendary surnames: Lignier. The cousin of icon Hubert Lignier, Georges’ 2019 Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is a category-defining blend of Pinot and Gamay hailing from old vines in the hallowed village of Morey-Saint-Denis. And it does all that while sporting a $30 price tag.


The result is a wondrous red with Côte de Nuits complexity and Cru Beaujolais exuberance. It’s a bottle to greedily consume now while also squirreling a few away for enjoyment in 2-3 years’ time. Remember, most bottles on US shelves bearing the “Lignier” imprimatur are likely to be ruthlessly expensive, so take the name, quality, and outstanding price of today’s wine and run with it!


Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is a bit of a frustrating appellation, in that it totally erases village and vineyard distinctions. It’s always a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, but where the fruit comes from can’t actually be conveyed on the label. It doesn’t matter if the vines are located in the lowliest Bourgogne-designated vineyard or in a top village; if it’s a blend of Gamay and Pinot, it’s classified Bourgogne Passetoutgrain. Georges Lignier’s bottling is ⅔ Pinot Noir and ⅓ Gamay, coming exclusively from old vines located in prime Morey-Saint-Denis territory. The village’s famed savory bass notes and firmer structure are apparent here, commingling with a joyfully pure fruit character and refreshing structure.



While Georges’ and Hubert’s estates are clearly distinct operations, they do share ownership of some of the most coveted plots in Morey-Saint-Denis (and thus in all of Burgundy). Hubert is known for a structured and burly style. But the Georges Lignier domaine, now headed by Georges’ nephew Benoit Stehly, offers simply one of the most seductive and elegant lineups you’ll see in the village. Benoit prizes aromatic complexity and concentration, a predilection that lends itself especially well to his Bourgogne Passetoutgrain bottling. The two varieties are fermented separately with partial whole clusters. The wines are blended post-malolactic conversion and aged entirely in steel, preserving the wine’s incredible crunchy freshness.


Upon pouring, a slight hint of purple and fuchsia tells us we’re not fully in Pinot land here. Nonetheless, this should be treated as though we were, served in Burgundy stems and cooled to about 60 degrees. The nose is beautiful, full of mouthwatering cranberry, black raspberry, Morello cherry, and purple plum fruit, followed by rose petals, white pepper, and a touch of damp earth. The palate is medium-bodied and juicy, trending towards the darker, more Gamay-like end of the spectrum with blueberries and plums coming to the fore. Gamay’s purple-fruited roundness fills out Pinot’s filigreed acidity, and there’s just enough tannin here for it to be served alongside some meat. The complexity is staggering considering the price and appellation, and I’ve got no doubt this will reward anyone who can keep their hands off it until 2025. But just in case you can’t, play it safe and grab a handful!

Domaine Georges Lignier, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain
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France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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