Domaine Michel Magnien et Fils

Brand Description

Domaine Michel Magnien has evolved into a Burgundy producer of a singular style and philosophy from their cellars located in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. Michel Magnien was born in 1946 and worked alongside his father Bernard from a young age. The Magniens sold their grapes to the local cooperative until 1993 when his son Frédéric joined the family business and persuaded his father to bottle the entire harvest by themselves. Frédéric Magnien began experimenting with organic practices in the late 1990s and the entire production was certified biodynamic by Demeter in 2015. Frédéric has also evolved the style of the wines and today élevage takes place in only used oak and clay jars.

Location of Vineyard

Morey-Saint-Denis is in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits between Gevrey-Chambertin to its north and Chambolle-Musigny to its south. The domaine’s 45 acres are spread across the villages of Morey-Saint-Denis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, and Vosne Romanée, with holdings in several premier cru and grand cru vineyards, including grand crus Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, and Charmes-Chambertin. Holdings are concentrated in Morey-Saint-Denis, where there are also parcels in the premier crus of Les Chaffots, Les Millandes, Les Blanchards, Aux Charmes, and Climats d’Or. Frédéric Magnien maintains an average vine age of 50 years, and has stated pointedly: “pulling out old vines is not my work.”

Winemaking Philosophy

At harvest, Pinot Noir is partially destemmed at various percentages depending on the site and vintage. “I use very ripe stems and the stems should integrate into the wine,” said Frédéric. Fermentation is spontaneous. Frédéric admits to having used too much new oak for aging his wines in the past. This began to change with the 2012 vintage when he began to dramatically reduce the number of new barrels in the cellar. By the 2015 vintage, no new oak was used at Domaine Michel Magnien and Frédéric now ages part of the production in small clay jars with the goal of eliminating any taste of wood in the wines. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

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“The whole cluster vinification shows on the cool, pure and restrained aromas of red currant, dark berries, humus and an earthy whiff. The tautly muscular and impressively intense medium weight flavors exude plenty of minerality on the seductive yet quite serious finish that leaves little doubt that this will need at least 10 years to arrive at its apogee and should reward 12 to 15.”
— acclaim for 2019 Michel Magnien Morey-Saint-Denis Climats D'Or from Burghound, Jan 2021

“Well-defined flavors of black currant, black cherry, spice, tobacco and stone mark this sinewy red. Finishes just a bit too lean in the end, with burly tannins.”
— acclaim for 2017 Michel Magnien Morey-Saint-Denis Climats D'Or from Wine Spectator, May 2021

"The 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru shows more composure and freshness compared to the Charmes-Chambertin with redcurrant, raspberry and blood orange scents. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins on the entry, fine acidity yet it feels muscular.”
— acclaim for 2020 Michel Magnien Clos de la Roche from Vinous, Feb 2022

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