DOMAINE DES LANDIONS
- Tony Lcrx
- Oct 13, 2025
- 13 min read
Updated: Oct 14, 2025
COMPLETE TASTING NOTES of 2023 (in bottle) & 2024 (barrique sample) + older collection
Vaumarcus, Neuchâtel
PRODUCER OVERVIEW
Morgan Meier represents the new generation of Swiss vignerons who prioritise terroir expression above all else. After training in Burgundy at Domaine Rousseau, he returned to Neuchâtel with a singular vision: to create wines of absolute purity that speak only of place.
Estate Details:
Total vineyard: 20 hectares (10 hectares vinified for estate wines)
Farming: Certified organic across all parcels
Philosophy: One identity, minimal intervention, terroir-driven
Soils: Sandy gravels and yellow Jurassic limestone
Key parcels: Front estate (sandy soils), Clos du Château (limestone slopes)
Range:
Chardonnay "Les Calcaires"
Pinot Noir "Les Cailloutis" (entry-level, immediate pleasure)
Pinot Noir "Les Landions" (estate signature, sandy soils)
Pinot Noir "Le Clos du Château" (flagship, limestone terroir)
Morgan's approach is consistent across vintages: careful clonal and massal selection, organic viticulture, thoughtful oak ageing, and patience. His wines require time to reveal their full complexity, but the wait is always rewarded.
UNDERSTANDING THE VINTAGES
2024 Vintage
A cool, challenging growing season that demanded precise vineyard management. Extended hang time with careful monitoring. The resulting wines show remarkable finesse, vibrant acidity, and crystalline terroir expression. These wines are built for the long term—expect exceptional ageing potential and development.
Vintage character: Tension, precision, mineral clarity, bright acidity
2023 Vintage
Heat, drought, and summer stress defined this vintage across Neuchâtel. Yields were favourable, but ripeness accelerated rapidly, requiring split-second picking decisions. Morgan captured a beautiful balance, preserving freshness despite the warmth. These wines show generosity paired with structure.
Vintage character: Ripe fruit, generous texture, structured yet approachable
2022 Vintage
A warm vintage producing concentrated, powerful wines with ripe fruit profiles and supple structures. Extended hang time without stress.
2020 Vintage
Another warm year with generous fruit expression and softer tannins. Wines show elegance emerging from initial power.
2018 Vintage
Fairly warm with dry growing conditions. Produced wines with ripe fruit character and approachable structure that are now showing beautiful tertiary development.
COMPLETE TASTING NOTES
2024 VINTAGE
Chardonnay "Les Calcaires" 2024
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Single-parcel limestone site
Ageing: 12 months in lightly toasted French oak (with 4-6 months remaining at time of tasting)
Production: Limited
Alcohol: ~13%
Tasting Note:
The 2024 vintage's challenging conditions have paradoxically created remarkable vibrancy in this wine. Delicate citrus and orchard fruits are beautifully framed by well-integrated oak, which adds subtle roundness and length without dominating the wine's inherent freshness. The limestone terroir speaks clearly through precise minerality and elegant structure.
On the nose, there's initial restraint giving way to white peach, lemon zest, and subtle brioche notes from the oak. The palate shows impressive tension—a taut line of acidity carries the wine through a long, saline finish. There's a lovely chalky texture that speaks directly to the limestone bedrock.
This is not a rich, buttery Chardonnay. This is cool-climate expression at its finest—mineral, precise, and built to age.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 12-14°C
Decant: 1-2 hours before serving to allow the wine to open
Glassware: Burgundy stem to capture aromatics
Drinking Window: While approachable young, this wine will reward patience. Cellar until 2030-2035 for the full expression of cool-climate Chardonnay at its peak. The structure suggests it could evolve beautifully beyond 2035.
Food Pairing: Slow-cooked Dover sole with confit lemon and spring vegetables would be sublime—the wine's noble texture and citrus character mirror the dish's delicacy. Also excellent with: roasted chicken, grilled turbot, fresh goat cheese, or shellfish in butter sauce.
Collector's Note: This wine represents exceptional value for cool-climate Chardonnay of this quality. The 2024 vintage's freshness and structure suggest this will be one of the long-lived examples from recent years.
Pinot Noir "Les Cailloutis" 2024
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Front estate parcels on sandy soil
Clones: Blend of German and French selections
Ageing: 12 months in a one-year-old French barrique
Production: Morgan's largest production of Pinot Noir
Alcohol: ~13.5%
Tasting Note:
This is Morgan's most immediately charming expression of Pinot Noir—the wine that converts sceptics and delights purists. The core shows pure, bright ruby colour with brilliant clarity.
On first impression, it's vivid and juicy—a red fruit elixir that delights instantly. Fresh cherry, wild strawberry, and raspberry aromatics leap from the glass. But beneath that joyful surface lies serious structure: resinous velvet tannins, savoury depth, and a delicate smoky finish likely attributable to the clonal diversity. There's subtle forest floor complexity emerging even in youth.
The sandy soil's influence is clear—rounded texture, an almost crunchy red fruit character, and an appealing immediacy. The oak provides support without makeup; you taste fruit and terroir, not wood.
This is Pinot Noir that brings joy without sacrificing complexity.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 14-16°C (slight chill)
Decanting: Optional, but 30 minutes helps
Glassware: Burgundy stem
Drinking Window: Ready to drink from fall 2026 onward. This vintage will be accessible earlier than usual—perfect for convivial moments with friends over a long afternoon. Drink through 2032-2034. Not every vintage offers this immediate pleasure.
Food Pairing: This is a wine that brings people together. Serve with roasted duck breast, mushroom risotto, coq au vin, grilled salmon, or simply good company and conversation.
Collector's Note: While Les Cailloutis is Morgan's "entry-level" Pinot, don't underestimate it. This represents some of the best value in his range and showcases his skill at capturing pure fruit expression.
Pinot Noir "Les Landions" 2024
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Three-hectare parcel selection, estate's front sandy/gravelly soils
Clones: Blend of German and French selections, some massal
Ageing: 12 months in 100% new French oak with light toast
Production: Limited, estate signature wine
Alcohol: ~13.5-14%
Tasting Note:
A gem in creation. Even in its youth, this wine displays remarkable balance and elegance. Where Cailloutis charms immediately, Les Landions whispers sophistication.
The sandy soil reveals itself beautifully—there's a rounded, almost crunchy texture supporting perfumed floral notes and fresh red berry aromas. Red cherry, violet, rose petal, and subtle spice. The tannins are gentle yet vibrant, providing structure without weight. The oak has been masterfully managed, allowing the wine to breathe and express its terroir freely. You sense the wood's presence as texture rather than flavour.
There's a purity here, an elegance that evokes Chambolle-Musigny in spirit if not in exact flavour profile. The wine shows its breeding—this is refined Pinot Noir for contemplation.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 15-17°C
Decanting: Recommended, 1-2 hours
Glassware: Fine Burgundy stems to capture delicate aromatics
Drinking Window: This wine will show its true character from 2029 onwards. It's approachable earlier, but will reward patience significantly. Peak drinking 2032-2040. The structure and balance suggest longevity beyond 2040.
Food Pairing: Roasted pigeon or duck breast with cherry-cinnamon sauce, parsnip confit, and, if you're fortunate, shaved truffle. The wine's elegance deserves this level of gastronomy.
Collector's Note: This is the wine to cellar. Les Landions represents the heart of Morgan's vision—terroir-driven Pinot Noir that reveals itself slowly and rewards patience. The 2024 structure suggests this will be a benchmark vintage.
Pinot Noir "Le Clos du Château" 2024
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sloped parcel overlooking the lake, yellow Jurassic limestone with surface moraine and minimal topsoil
Clones: Pure Burgundian massal selection
Ageing: 12 months in 100% new French oak with light toast (same treatment as Les Landions)
Production: Extremely limited, flagship wine
Alcohol: ~14%
Tasting Note:
This is a different conversation entirely. Where Les Landions offers delicacy, Le Clos du Château delivers depth, power, and richness. This is not a wine that flatters in youth—it demands time, patience, and serious contemplation.
The limestone imparts strict tannins, a meaty texture, and penetrating acidity. There's unmistakable density and structure—you feel the bedrock in your mouth. Dark fruit character (black cherry, cassis, plum) mingles with earthy complexity, graphite, stone, and cured meat. The tannins are firm but beautifully ripe, with no vegetal character or harsh edges.
If Les Landions evokes Chambolle-Musigny, this wine stands confidently alongside Pommard Premier Cru or Gevrey-Chambertin. The comparison isn't stylistic mimicry—it's about seriousness of intent and ageing potential. This is a limestone-driven Pinot Noir of profound character.
Currently, the wine is locked down, showing reduction and primary fruit. Time will shape this wine into something profound.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 16-18°C
Decanting: Essential, minimum 2-3 hours (even better a day ahead with recorking)
Glassware: Large Burgundy stems to allow the wine to breathe
Drinking Window: Cellar until 2035-2040 for the full experience. Do not open before 2030 unless you're exceptionally curious. Everything in this wine signals a brilliant future for patient collectors. Peak drinking 2035-2050.
Food Pairing: Grilled lamb rack with porcini mushrooms and reduced meat jus. The wine's structure and intensity require equally powerful flavours
Cellar Conditions: Store at 12-14°C, 70% humidity, no light, minimal vibration.
Collector's Note: This is Morgan's monument wine. It's almost indestructible and will outlive most of us. If you have the patience and proper cellar conditions, this wine will reward you with something extraordinary. The 2024's structure suggests this could be the vintage to cellar for your children.
2023 VINTAGE
Chardonnay "Les Calcaires" 2023
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sandy soils in the estate's front parcels
Ageing: 16 months in French oak with light toast
Production: Limited
Alcohol: ~13.5%
Tasting Note:
From the first sip, this wine is arresting. There's an almost perfect equilibrium—every element occupying its rightful place. The round, rich texture is lifted by bright acidity, while layered aromatics carry the wine through a long, satisfying finish.
Ripe orchard fruits (golden apple, pear, apricot) merge with subtle oak-derived notes of vanilla and toasted brioche. There's a beautiful texture—creamy but not heavy—and a core of minerality that keeps everything grounded. A subtle, noble reduction on the nose suggests considerable ageing potential ahead.
Despite the vintage's heat, Morgan has captured remarkable freshness and poise. This is Chardonnay that balances generosity with restraint—showing the warm year's ripeness without losing its sense of place. The wine has weight without heaviness, richness without fatigue.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 13-15°C
Decanting: 1 hour beneficial
Glassware: White Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Approachable now but built for the long term. The structure and reduction suggest this wine will evolve beautifully through 2035 and beyond. Currently drinking beautifully at 2 years; will gain complexity with age.
Food Pairing: Lobster with drawn butter and herbs, roasted chicken with chanterelles, or aged Comté. The wine's richness can handle luxurious preparations while its acidity cuts through fat beautifully. Also excellent with: sweetbreads, veal, creamy pasta dishes, or roasted root vegetables.
Collector's Note: The 2023 is drinking beautifully now and shows how Morgan navigates warm vintages without compromising balance. More immediately approachable than 2024 but with similar ageing potential.
Pinot Noir "Les Cailloutis" 2023
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sandy soil parcels, front of winery
Clones: German and French blend
Ageing: Oak with a lesser proportion of new barrels
Alcohol: ~13.5%
Tasting Note:
Morgan maintains stylistic consistency with Cailloutis across vintages, and the 2023 delivers his signature approachability. The vintage's warmth shows in juicy ripe red berry aromas—strawberry, cherry, raspberry—but Morgan's picking decisions preserved the freshness that makes this cuvée so appealing.
The palate leads with tangy, crunchy texture—all about harmonious fruit initially. Then precise tannins emerge on the finish, delivering the characteristic savoury length that defines this wine. There's lovely energy throughout, a brightness that keeps you returning to the glass.
The sandy terroir provides suppleness and immediate charm. This is Pinot Noir without pretension—just pure, joyful fruit expression.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting: Optional, 30 minutes
Glassware: Standard Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Enjoy from spring 2026 onward. Drink through 2030-2032. This is accessible Pinot at its finest—don't overthink it, just enjoy it.
Food Pairing: Roasted Bresse chicken with sweet tomato sauce and roasted potatoes. Simple but effective—the wine's juiciness adds a delightful dimension to this family-friendly dish.
Collector's Note: This is the wine to have on hand for casual gatherings. It over-delivers for the price and shows Morgan's skill at pure fruit expression.
Pinot Noir "Les Landions" 2023
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Three-hectare parcel, sandy/gravelly soils
Ageing: 100% new French oak with light toast
Production: Limited
Alcohol: ~14%
Tasting Note:
Elegant Pinot focused on ripe dark fruits and sweet spices. The overall profile is already expressive, showing beautiful balance with a tannic structure that builds slowly in the background, extending the wine's length gracefully.
The sandy terroir provides a supple, welcoming texture while maintaining precision. There's depth here—layers that reveal themselves gradually with aeration.
This vintage of Les Landions finds a lovely middle ground—more approachable than the monumental Clos du Château, yet with enough structure to age gracefully. The warmth of 2023 shows in the ripe fruit but doesn't overwhelm the wine's essential elegance.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 16-17°C
Decanting: Recommended, 1-2 hours
Glassware: Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Ready to enjoy over the next 3-5 years, but setting aside bottles for ageing will reward you—this wine will develop beautifully through 2035. Peak drinking 2028-2038.
Food Pairing: Versatile enough for everything from roasted poultry to beef tenderloin. The wine's balance makes it an excellent companion for a range of refined preparations.
Collector's Note: The 2023 Les Landions offers earlier accessibility than 2024 while retaining ageing potential. A great vintage to enjoy both young and aged.
Pinot Noir "Le Clos du Château" 2023
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sloped limestone parcel overlooking the lake
Clones: Pure Burgundian massal selection
Aging: 100% new French oak
Production: Extremely limited
Alcohol: ~14%
Tasting Note:
True to form, the 2023 Clos du Château reveals none of its potential in youth. There's unmistakable density, tightness, and firm tannins derived from whole-bunch fermentation and the limestone terroir. This wine is locked down, showing its cards reluctantly.
The wine displays pleasant reduction with aromas of cured meat, black olive, graphite, and dark ripe fruits. The palate is structured and compact—strict tannins grip the cheeks, and penetrating acidity provides backbone. There's concentration and power, but everything is coiled, waiting.
Despite the density, the tannins are beautifully ripe—no vegetal character or harsh edges. Time will shape this wine into something profound. The fruit is there, the structure is there, the terroir signature is unmistakable. It's almost indestructible.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 17-18°C
Decanting: Essential, 3-4 hours minimum
Glassware: Large Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Do not open before 2028. The full peak should arrive around 2035-2040. Patience is not optional here—it's essential. This wine will evolve for decades. Drink 2035-2055+.
Food Pairing: When the time comes, pair this with matured beef filet, truffles, and chanterelle mushrooms. The wine's complexity will mirror the meatiness of the beef, while its noble tertiary aromas will be enhanced by the earthy mushrooms. This is a wine for milestone moments—anniversaries, celebrations, important dinners.
Collector's Note: This is a wine for serious collectors with proper cellars and genuine patience. The 2023 has the structure and density to outlive most wines in your collection. Buy it for your children or your retirement. This is Morgan's masterpiece—a wine of profound terroir expression that will reward those who wait.
LIBRARY VINTAGES
Pinot Noir "Les Landions" 2018
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sandy soil selection, same source as current releases
Ageing: French oak (details consistent with current approach)
Vintage: Fairly warm with a dry growing season
Now: 7 years old
Tasting Note:
This seven-year-old's Landions has retained its elegant, lace-like texture beautifully. Time has been exceptionally kind. There's a perfect balance between ripe fruits and emerging tertiary aromas—leather, tobacco, forest floor complexity all woven together seamlessly.
The primary fruit has evolved from bright red berries into more nuanced expressions: dried cherry, fig, sous-bois. The tannins have refined to a powdery, silken texture that coats the palate gently. There's savoury depth now, an umami quality that makes the wine incredibly food-friendly.
Simply elegant. This is Les Landions at a lovely stage of evolution—showing what the wine becomes with time while retaining essential freshness and energy.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 17°C
Decanting: 1 hour
Glassware: Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Drink now through 2030. This is Les Landions at a lovely stage of evolution. The wine is singing right now, but has several more years ahead.
Food Pairing: For a playful pairing, try grilled red mullet with sweet-and-sour cranberry sauce and homemade ratatouille. The fish's depth of flavour plays beautifully with the wine's fine texture, while the ripe fruit character complements the sauce as a seasoning element. This unexpected pairing showcases the wine's versatility.
Collector's Note: This wine demonstrates Les Landions' ageing potential. The 2018 shows how gracefully this cuvée evolves, maintaining elegance while gaining complexity. If you have 2023 or 2024 in your cellar, this vintage shows you the future.
Pinot Noir "Le Clos du Château" 2020
Technical Details:
Vineyard: Sloped limestone parcel
Clones: Burgundian massal selection
Vintage: Warm year, generous and expressive
Now: 5 years old
Tasting Note:
There's profound emotion in this glass. The Clos du Château 2020 still shows its characteristic structural tension, but the vintage's warmth has begun to soften the edges. This is a wine in transition—moving from primary youth toward maturity, showing glimpses of what's to come.
Initial earthiness gradually gives way to elderberry fruits, intense floral notes (violet, lavender), and a mellow mouthfeel that reveals the warmer year's generosity. There's still firm structure—the limestone signature remains clear—but the tannins are beginning to integrate. Complexity is building: game, leather, smoke, dark spices.
Everything is in place—this wine is already standing tall. Yet there's a long journey ahead before it reaches its ultimate peak, which I expect around 2038.
Optimal Serving:
Temperature: 17-18°C
Decanting: 2-3 hours
Glassware: Large Burgundy stems
Drinking Window: Approachable now for the curious, but built for 2030-2040. Currently in an interesting phase—showing both youth and evolution simultaneously. It will be magnificent at 15-20 years.
Food Pairing: The white pepper spice in this wine calls for juicy veal cutlet with red bell pepper and warming spices. This is a wine for intimate gatherings with people who matter—the kind of bottle that creates memories.
Collector's Note: The 2020 offers a preview of what happens to Clos du Château with time. It's fascinating to compare this with the 2023 or 2024 to understand the wine's evolution. If you're curious about opening a Clos du Château but don't want to sacrifice a young vintage, the 2020 is your window into the wine's soul.
COLLECTING & CELLARING GUIDE
Which Wines to Buy:
For Immediate Pleasure (Drink within 5 years):
Les Cailloutis (any vintage)
Current vintage Chardonnay
For Medium-Term Cellaring (5-15 years):
Les Landions (especially 2023, 2024)
Chardonnay Les Calcaires 2024
For Long-Term Collection (15-30+ years):
Le Clos du Château (all vintages, especially 2023, 2024)
Storage Recommendations:
Essential Conditions:
Temperature: 12-14°C constant (variation is the enemy)
Humidity: 70%
Darkness: Complete
Position: Horizontal (cork contact)
Vibration: None
For Clos du Château specifically: Consider professional storage if you don't have a proper cellar. This wine is too valuable and age-worthy to risk in suboptimal conditions.
Serving Suggestions:
Temperature is critical:
Cailloutis: Slight chill (14-16°C) enhances freshness
Landions: Cool room temperature (15-17°C)
Clos du Château: Room temperature (16-18°C)
Chardonnay: Cool (12-15°C depending on age)
Decanting:
Young wines (under 5 years): Essential, 2-4 hours
Middle-aged wines (5-15 years): Beneficial, 1-2 hours
Older wines (15+ years): Careful, 30-60 minutes (watch for degradation)
Glassware matters: Invest in quality Burgundy stems (Zalto, Riedel Sommeliers series, or Grassl). The wines are too good for standard glasses.
VALUE ASSESSMENT
Morgan Meier's wines represent exceptional value at current pricing. Here's why:
Quality comparison: Clos du Château rivals Burgundy Premier Cru at a fraction of the price.
Scarcity: Production is intentionally limited. Morgan vinifies only 10 of his 20 hectares.
Trajectory: Recognition is growing. These wines will be significantly more expensive and harder to find within 5 years.
Ageability: Proper cellaring will see these wines appreciate in both quality and value.
My recommendation: Buy vertically (multiple vintages of the same wine) and horizontally (all cuvées from one vintage). The investment will reward you both in the glass and in value.
QUESTIONS?
Need help building your Domaine des Landions collection?
Want specific vintage recommendations based on your cellar conditions or preferences?
Related Collections:
Last Updated: October 2025
These notes represent my professional assessment based on extensive tasting with the producer. Your experience may vary based on storage conditions, serving temperature, and personal preferences.
Comments