CRAFT + ESTATE PRESENTS Location: Morey-Saint-Denis Grape Variety: Pinot Noir Domaine Michel Magnien has evolved into a Burgundy producer of a singular style and philosophy in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. Michel Magnien was born in 1946 and worked alongside his father Bernard from an early 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 themselves. Frédéric Magnien began experimenting with organic practices in the late 1990s and the entire production was certified biodynamic by Demeter in 2015. BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE In both organic and biodynamic viticulture, no chemical inputs sprays and compost in minute doses, much like homeopathic remedies are used in the vineyard. In organic viticulture, chemicals such as are for humans. Timely applications revitalize the soil and stimulate herbicides and pesticides are forbidden. The philosophy behind root growth, enhance the development of microorganisms and humus biodynamic methods is to revive the soils through holistic means. formation, and aid in photosynthetic activity. Biodynamics strengthens the vitality and resistance of plants by The cosmic phase of biodynamic viticulture allows the plant to improving the natural exchanges between soil and the roots, and strengthen and to energize itself thanks to natural force rather than between sky and the plant. This is accomplished in two ways: the working against nature. The moon strongly influences the way sap use of specific preparations in the vineyard and the consideration runs through the vine and brings rhythm to each step of Frédéric’s of moon phases. decisions during the wine-growing cycle. Frédéric believes his biodynamic approach allows him to achieve the maximum expression There are nine biodynamic preparations in all, made from herbs, of his Côte de Nuits terroirs. minerals, and animal manure. The preparations are added to field © 2017 Selected and Imported by Winebow, Inc., New York, NY | Photographs by Domain Michel Magnien | Map courtesy of www.bourgogne-wines.com Domain Michel Magnien | Map courtesy by NY | Photographs York, Inc., New Winebow, by and Imported Selected © 2017 Frédéric is particularly fond of Morey-Saint- Denis Les Chaffots, a premier cru that sits above the grand cru of Clos-Saint-Denis VINEYARD LOCATION Most of Domaine Michel Magnien’s 45 acres of vineyard are found in spicy exotic notes of the wine with aromas and flavors that are Morey-Saint-Denis with additional holdings in Gevrey-Chambertin, often described as herbal, floral, tea-like, and earthy.” Frédéric also Chambolle-Musigny, and Vosne-Romanée. Morey-Saint-Denis is says that including stems provide the added benefit of absorbing located in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, with Gevrey-Chambertin to its alcohol and bringing greater freshness, culminating in wines of purity north and Chambolle-Musigny to its south. The village lays claim to and elegance. four grand crus in their entirety and a small piece of a fifth grand cru shared with its neighbor Chambolle-Musigny. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation are spontaneous. Frédéric admits to having used too much new oak for aging his wines in the The domaine has several premier cru and grand cru holdings spread past. This began to change with the 2012 vintage when he began to throughout the Côte de Nuits. Frédéric is particularly fond of Morey- dramatically reduce the number of new barrels in the cellar. As of the Saint-Denis Les Chaffots, a premier cru that sits above the grand cru 2015 vintage, no new oak has been used at Domaine Michel Magnien of Clos-Saint-Denis where vines grow in steep and rocky soil. Michel and Frédéric now ages part of the production in small clay jars with Magnien’s grandfather, Bernard, acquired several old parcels within the goal of eliminating any taste of wood in the wines. The wines are this 2.62-hectare vineyard where Frédéric maintains old vines and bottled without fining or filtration. enjoys the site’s elegance and fragrance. WINEMAKING 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. The inclusion of stems in the fermentation vat, also referred to as whole-bunch or whole-cluster fermentation, was once standard practice before destemming machines were introduced in the 1920s. The destemming machine, which steadily gained in popularity over the ensuing decades, removed under-ripe stems that contributed green flavors as well as rough tannins. By the 1990s, complete removal of stems from the grapes before fermentation had become de rigueur in Burgundy for all but a few traditionally-minded producers. But with warmer vintages, improved winegrowing, and generally riper stems, some Burgundians are choosing to include a percentage of stems in their fermentations. Frédéric states several positives to using between 20% and 50% stems depending on the site and vintage. “The inclusion of stems can bring WINES COTEAUX BOURGUIGNONS BOURGOGNE ROUGE Coteaux Bourguignons replaced the old appellation Bourgogne Rouge comes from regional and village-level of Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire in 2011 and allows for vineyards spread across the Côte de Nuits and are from the blending of all Burgundian varieties and regions. vines planted by Frédéric’s grandfather with an average Domaine Michel Magnien’s Coteaux Bourguignons vine age of 50 years. Around 20% whole clusters were comes from various terroirs in the Côte de Nuits included in the cuvée. The wine was vinified in half and is made exclusively from Pinot Noir. Aged in a concrete and half used Burgundian pièce. combination of cement vats and used Burgundian Pièce. FIXIN MOREY-SAINT-DENIS Fixin is a quiet village sitting at the northern end of Morey-Saint-Denis is a cuvée of four vineyards that the Côte de Nuits, just a short half-hour drive from the lie near the D974, Clos Solon, Chenevery, Les Crais, center of Dijon. Michel Magnien’s Fixin comes from and Les Cognées. Most of these sites have heavier soils two vineyards on the east-facing mid-slope, one on the without stones which Frédéric believes results in less border of Couchey, the other on the border of Brochon. structure but a more generously textured palate. The The wine was aged entirely in used Burgundian pièce. wine was aged entirely in used, Burgundian pièce. MOREY-SAINT-DENIS TRÈS GIRARD GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN LES SEUVRÉES CRAFT + ESTATE PRESENTS Morey-Saint-Denis Très Girard is a lieu-dit lying above the D974 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Seuvrées is a lieu-dit lying below the surrounding the small cemetery of Morey-Saint-Denis. The D974 directly below the Grand Cru of Charmes-Chambertin. name comes from a Mr. Girard de Fropiac, the owner of this Seuvrées comes from the Latin “separatas” and was named because climat two centuries ago. The soil is composed of limestone marl the plot is separated by the borders of Gevrey and Morey. It is from with white pebbles and a high percentage of clay which gives this clay-limestone soils with round stones of varying sizes. Aged in a wine weight and richness. Aged in a combination of used pièce combination of used pièce and clay jars. and clay jars. CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY FREMIÈRES CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY LES ARGILLIÈRES Chambolle-Musigny Fremières is a lieu-dit lying below the Chambolle-Musigny Les Argillières is a lieu-dit lying directly premier crus on the Morey-Saint-Denis side of the village. The above and to the north of grand cru Le Musigny. The wines from wines from this area tend to have more structure and muscle Les Argillières tend to be very perfumed and finessed thanks to than typical of Chambolle, but still show the perfume and spice the soil consisting of active limestone mixed with clay. Aged in a common to this commune. Aged in a combination of used pièce combination of used oak and clay jars. and clay jars. VOSNE-ROMANÉE VIEILLES VIGNES CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY SENTIERS 1ER CRU Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes comes from two village-level Chambolle-Musigny Sentiers 1er Cru lies directly below the climats lying just above the D974 and planted in 1902 and Grand Cru of Bonnes-Mares on the Morey-Saint-Denis side 1920. The soils are calcareous marl and clay. The wine is a pure of the village. The name “Sentiers” refers to a path near the expression of its terroir thanks to its élevage in a combination of vineyard that leads to Clos de Vougeot, and is from a plot used oak and clay jars. purchased by Frédéric’s grandfather Bernard in 1967. Aged in a combination of used pièce and clay jars. MOREY-SAINT-DENIS CHAFFOTS 1ER CRU GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN CAZETIERS 1ER CRU Morey-Saint-Denis Chaffots 1er Cru sits above the grand crus Gevrey-Chambertin Cazetiers 1er Cru borders Clos-Saint- of Clos-Saint-Denis where vines grow in steep and rocky soil. Jacques on the combe (a small valley) that lies behind the village. The name Les Chaffots comes from the word “échafaud” or Vineyards on the combe benefit from cool air drawn down from “scaffold,” possibly a place where executions took place. Aged in the forest above it and some of the premier crus here can be a combination of used pièce and clay jars. Les Chaffot’s higher exceptional. Cazetiers is a steep, east-facing site with rocky marl elevation results in a wine with bright acidity and a leaner profile soil and tends to produce sturdy and robust wines. Old vines, the than Clos-Saint-Denis which sits below it. The vineyard’s soil oldest of which are 90-years-old. Aged in a combination of used is like that of Clos de la Roche, and its rocky terroir delivers a pièce and clay jars.