Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru "Aux Combottes" 2016 - Hubert Lignier

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes 2016 — Domaine Hubert Lignier

This Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes 2016 from Domaine Hubert Lignier expresses one of the finest, deepest and most sought-after Premier Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin. Located in a prestigious sector, close to the great terroirs of Morey-Saint-Denis and the Grands Crus of Gevrey, Aux Combottes gives a Pinot Noir of great nobility: black cherry, Morello cherry, wild raspberry, cassis, black fruits, dark rose, violet, fine spices, liquorice, noble earth, graphite, forest floor and a long mineral finish.

Domaine Hubert Lignier is renowned for deep, precise wines built for ageing, with a classical approach that favours fruit purity, structure and terroir expression. Aux Combottes holds a singular position in the hierarchy of Gevrey-Chambertin: a Premier Cru of great distinction, often more refined and more streamlined than the village’s most massive expressions. The 2016 vintage brings freshness, tension, aromatic precision and tannic structure of great finesse.

Terroir: Aux Combottes, mineral finesse between Gevrey and Morey

The Aux Combottes climat lies in the southern part of Gevrey-Chambertin, in the immediate vicinity of great terroirs such as Latricières-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin and Clos de la Roche. This exceptional position explains its distinctive character: the depth and authority of Gevrey mingle with aromatic finesse and tension reminiscent of certain great climats of Morey-Saint-Denis.

The clay-limestone soils, stones and marls bring Pinot Noir a precise mineral frame, fine tannins and strong ageing capacity. At Hubert Lignier, Aux Combottes stands out for its straightness, fruit purity and depth without excess. In the 2016, the freshness of the vintage highlights cherry, raspberry, black fruits, spices, noble earth, graphite and a long, fresh and stony finish.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep ruby with garnet and purple reflections, bright, dense and still very youthful. The colour reflects the controlled concentration of the 2016 vintage and the natural depth of a Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru built to evolve slowly.

Nose: deep, fresh and very precise, with black cherry, Morello cherry, wild raspberry, cassis, black fruits, dark rose, violet, fine spices, liquorice, noble earth and graphite. With aeration, nuances of forest floor, fine leather, black tea, cocoa, sweet pepper, discreet cedar, fresh truffle and limestone minerality may appear.

Palate: medium to full-bodied, straight, dense and elegantly structured, with pure red and black fruit supported by clear freshness. Flavours of black cherry, raspberry, cassis, spices, liquorice, fine earth and graphite unfold with precision, carried by fine, firm and persistent tannins. The finish is long, fresh, mineral and lightly saline, with an impression of stone, tension and great Burgundian nobility.

Expression of the 2016 vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy produced wines that are fresh, precise, balanced and often remarkably expressive after a demanding season. In Gevrey-Chambertin, this freshness highlights Pinot Noir purity, tannic finesse and the mineral dimension of the great terroirs. In Aux Combottes, the 2016 stands out for its energy, straightness, clear fruit and long, stony finish.

Today, this Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes 2016 remains young and has very fine ageing potential. It can already impress through its precision and balance after measured aeration, but will gain further complexity with time: forest floor, truffle, fine leather, melted spices, black tea, noble earth, graphite and mineral nuances should gradually join the purity of the fruit.