Lucien Le Moine

Lucien Le Moine is a small négociant house in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune region. It was established in 1999 and sources  Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from around the Côte d'Or, from village-level, premier cru and grand cru vineyards.

The vineyards that Le Moine source from are among the most famous and sought-after in Burgundy, and so average prices can be steep. Le Moine makes wines from several grand cru sites, including Bonnes-Mares, Le Montrachet, Echezeaux and Richebourg, and some of Burgundy's most famous premier cru sites as well, such as Les Amoureuses. Several village-level wines are also included in the portfolio, as well as generic Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc offerings. Always taking stock of the vintage and constantly re-evaluating its sources, production at Lucien Le Moine fluctuates greatly and never exceeds 100 barrels or roughly 30,000 bottles. Limited cellar space means that some crus can consist of a single barrel and result in only 300 bottles.

Wine is bought immediately following fermentation, and Lucien Le Moine is responsible for élevage. Wines are aged on their lees, and malolactic fermentation is put off as long as possible to produce softer wines with fewer sulphites. Depending on the vintage, battonage is used to maximize contact with the lees. Lucien Le Moine uses 100 percent new oak from the Jupilles forest in northwestern France. The wines are bottled directly from barrel after a full moon and there is no blending, fining or filtering.