Lucien Le Moine
About Lucien Le Moine
Founded in 1999 by Mounir and Rotem Saouma, Lucien Le Moine is an expression of the Burgundian drive to lovingly craft only the very best wines from the very best terroirs, regardless of any external factors. These are wines of truly relentless excellence.
The concerted aim of this house is to produce no more than 100 barrels of 1er and Grand Cru wine each vintage, varying from year to year as Mounir samples each vineyard before deciding which meet his lofty standards. Often only securing a single barrel per vineyard, their 100 barrel release in 2017, for example, covered 68 different wines.
The Winemaking
Lucien Le Moine has no running contracts with growers (although they will often source grapes repeatedly from the best), and they have no prerequisites with regards to how the vines were managed. Fascinatingly, this producer is not a winemaker, as such, as they purchase wines after fermentation. Instead, the art for which Mounir and Rotem Saouma have become so revered is the élevage - the process of ageing, filtration, racking etc. in their facility in Beaune.
Given their focus on post-fermentation processes, they work very closely with one specific barrel supplier, who sources the very finest wood from the great forests of France and wider Europe. Such is their care and determination, that each individual barrel is composed and toasted slightly differently to match and season each specific wine - attention to detail and artisanal craft reaches its apogee at Lucien Le Moine.
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HK$13,665.00
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Burghound (90-93)
Pungent aromas of wood and reduction lead to almost painfully intense middle weight flavors that also possess an appealing texture that is at once rich and nicely detailed, all wrapped in lingering finish that is appealingly complex. This is very pretty and while it will likely need 12-ish years to arrive at its apogee, it should be approachable after only 5 to 7.HK$12,180.00 -
Burghound (91-94)
"Outstanding" An exuberantly spicy and very Vosne nose of plum, dark fruit coulis, exotic tea and sandalwood aromas beautifully complement the sleek and detailed if not especially dense flavors that still possess good richness on the dusty, very firm and youthfully austere finale. This too is absolutely going to require at least some forbearance.HK$10,965.00 -
Burghound (90-92)
Here the nose is sufficiently reduced to mask the underlying fruit. Otherwise there is good vibrancy to the delicate, pure and lacy middle weight flavors that flash a touch of youthful austerity on the lingering finish. This lacks a bit of depth at present, but more should develop if given a few years.HK$7,095.00 -
Burghound (90-92)
Here too the reduction is dense enough to hide the fruit. Otherwise, there is a caressing but punchy mouthfeel to the detailed and refined middle weight flavors that exude plenty of minerality on the mildly austere, firm and sneaky long finale. This is very Petits Vougeot in character with its elegant and understated style.HK$8,030.00 -
James Suckling (98)
I tasted this and I thought of the great Rayas from the late 1980s. Full body, bright fruit and a creamy texture. Its purity of fruit is amazing with dark berry, spice, meat and dried flowers. The first vintage of this was 2009. Made from old vines planted in the 1940s. Aged three years in demi mouie. Very low sulfur too. Drink or holdHK$8,090.00 -
Wine Spectator (97)
This is cut from different cloth, with beguiling loganberry, açai berry and raspberry fruit seamlessly melded with dried star anise, singed cinnamon and black tea notes, all carried by substantial yet remarkably silky tannins. A light echo of iron pervades the finish, adding extra cut to the copious fruit and spice elements. Hard to resist now but should cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2032. 350 cases made.HK$8,090.00 -
Vinous - Josh Raynolds (94-97)
Deep shimmering magenta. Intensely perfumed, sharply delineated raspberry and boysenberry liqueur aromas are complicated by suggestions of candied flowers and exotic spices, and a subtle touch of earthiness emerges as the wine opens up. Palate-staining red and blue fruit, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors deepen steadily through the midpalate. Blends power and delicacy with a sure hand and finishes extremely long and spicy, with repeating red berry and floral character and fine-grained, harmonious tannins that come in late.HK$6,250.00 -
Wine Spectator (96)
Very expressive, with seductive, gently mulled plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors seamlessly layered together, while hints of black tea, singed anise, apple wood, incense and warm earth filter through on the finish. A long, mouthwatering mineral note echoes to the last moment. Gorgeous. Best from 2024 through 2040. 400 cases made, 29 cases imported.HK$7,645.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Omnia is a smoking blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that was fermented with 100% whole-cluster and aged two years in barrels, on lees, and never racked. It offers up a gorgeous perfume of sweet black cherries, kirsch liqueur, garrigue, crushed flowers and toasted spice that gives way to full-bodied richness, solid mid-palate depth and building tannin that emerges on the finish. While this has the vintage's more supple nature, I love the depth and richness on the palate, and it will evolve gracefully for at least 10-12 years. Importer: Atherton Wine Imports, Atherton CA; tel. (650) 328-6639HK$5,230.00 -
Vinous (93)
Brilliant ruby-red. Fresh cherry and red berry aromas gain spiciness with air, picking up a smoky quality and a hint of potpourri. Juicy and sharply focused, with densely packed raspberry and bitter cherry flavors nicely lifted by zesty acidity. Finishes with excellent persistence, a hint of fine-grained tannins and repeating cherry and smoke notes.HK$4,055.00 -
Vinous (93-95)
Vivid ruby. Explosive red berry liqueur, incense and Asian spice scents show superb clarity, with hints of floral oils and minerals providing additional lift. Silky, seamless and concentrated, offering sweet raspberry and cherry compote flavors sharpened by tangy acidity. A powerful yet graceful Châteauneuf with excellent closing focus and thrust.HK$4,055.00 -
Vinous (93-96)
Opaque ruby. A sexy, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes fresh blue fruits, Asian spices, smoky minerals and candied flowers. Sappy, expansive and pure on the palate, offering impressively concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. Ripe and broad yet lithe on the tenacious finish, which displays sneaky tannins and repeating blue fruit and floral flavors.HK$4,055.00