2023 Domaine Michel Magnien Morey-Saint-Denis 750 ml

Frédéric Magnien is one of the most famous names in Burgundy. An evangelist for biodynamic farming, Frédéric’s eponymous négociant house is acclaimed for rich, silky textured Pinot Noir that comes from some of the region’s most famous vineyards.

But the Magnien wines we covet the most bear the name of Frédéric’s father, Michel.

These bottles hail from vines that Frédéric tends on his family’s estate. Only a fraction of the overall Magnien production is bottled under the Michel Magnien label, and they represent some of the most sumptuous, vibrant wines in any vintage.

The 2023 Michel Magnien Morey-Saint-Denis hails from one of our favorite overdelivering villages for red Burgundy. Situated between the famous towns of Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, Morey always seems to combine the power of Gevrey with a touch of Chambolle’s silkiness, but remains far less expensive than either—for reasons we’ve yet to figure out. 

Under Frédéric Magnien's meticulous stewardship, this family-run domaine embraced the ancient rhythms of biodynamic viticulture, banishing herbicides and synthetic fertilizers from their vineyards to allow for a more authentic expression of terroir. This philosophy extends to their Pinot Noir production, where Frédéric employs partial destemming at varying percentages depending on vineyard site and vintage conditions. "I use very ripe stems and the stems should integrate into the wine," explained Frédéric, demonstrating his thoughtful approach to creating balanced, expressive Pinot Noir.

This Morey-Saint-Denis bottling exemplifies the domaine's approach, blending fruit from four vineyards situated near the D974: Clos Solon, Chenevery, Les Crais, and Les Cognées. These sites primarily feature heavier soils without stones, resulting in wines with a more generous, textured palate and sumptuous fruit—especially in a warm 2023 vintage that favored expressive, softly textured wines.

True to the domaine's traditional élevage techniques, this cuvée is aged entirely in used barrels, allowing the natural characteristics of the fruit and terroir to shine through without being masked by excessive oak influence.