1991 Clos de la Roche
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Tasting notes
The 1991 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru from Domaine Hubert Lignier was a bottle that Laurent Lignier himself had given one of the guests to compensate for a corked bottle at a vertical in 2000. This is a glorious Clos de la Roche firing on all cylinders. It was a drastically reduced yield due to hail at flowering, which explains the intense aromatics, black cherries, iris flower and a scintilla of Earl Grey. The 1991 displays brilliant delineation and vigour after three decades. The palate is beautifully balanced with that arching structure that I recall from a couple of bottles drunk when this was around 10 years of age. Fine grip, surfeit with vigour, it has so much swagger on the finish; a Clos de la Roche that stands as one of the Domaine’s crowning achievements.
Critic scores
Average Score
Pierre Rovani
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1991 Clos de la Roche (magnum) is bold, intense and almost shockingly ripe. Severe hail during flowering lowered yields dramatically. Today, the 1991 preserves massive richness that is out of context with the other wines in this tasting. Dark red and black cherry, smoke, hard candy, tobacco, licorice and game add to the wine’s super-distinctive profile. The 1991 needs quite a bit of air to show at its best, but it is terrific. There is no shortage of personality. Readers should expect a big Clos de la Roche with broad shoulders and serious fruit density, especially for a wine of its age.
The dark-colored 1991 Clos de la Roche offers complex aromas of kirsch, stones, black cherries, and cedar. Medium-bodied and well-focused, it is in the transitional stage between youth and maturity. Sweet red cherries can still be discerned in its otherwise exotic wood and cigar box-flavored personality. This is a well-concentrated, elegant wine. Its long finish displays loads of gorgeously ripened tannins for additional structure. Projected maturity: now-2010.
The dark-colored 1991 Clos de la Roche offers complex aromas of kirsch, stones, black cherries, and cedar. Medium-bodied and well-focused, it is in the transitional stage between youth and maturity. Sweet red cherries can still be discerned in its otherwise exotic wood and cigar box-flavored personality. This is a well-concentrated, elegant wine. Its long finish displays loads of gorgeously ripened tannins for additional structure. Projected maturity: now-2010. Wine Advocate.October, 2000