RICHEBOURG
2021 Grand Cru Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair
30% whole bunch. There was little frost here, so a decent yield. Thibault described this as a foetus, and it is ridiculously unevolved, to the extent that it's really not giving much away, other than a sense of supreme balance in the texture. Expression will come! Drinking range: 2030 - 2040L&S (Oct 2022)
75cl bottles (wood case of 3)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Riveting on the nose, the smells include baked blueberries, Chinese five spice and fresh earth. The palate is supremely well integrated with lightly chewy tannins and mouthwatering acidity. This seems set to be spectacular early as well as years from now thanks to its finessed framing. This is the oldest vineyard of the domaine, planted between 1931 and 1936 on yellow and red clay with limestone rocks. Drinking range: 2023 - Rating: 96 *** Christy Canterbury MW - TimAtkin.com (Feb 2023)
(from a .55 ha parcel; 30% whole clusters). This is aromatically reserved, indeed it’s all but mute though aggressive swirling eventually coaxes spice, floral and ripe dark cherry liqueur-like scents to emerge. There is again excellent volume to the tautly muscular and overtly mineral-infused bigger-bodied flavors that exude a highly appealingly inner mouth perfumed while displays outstanding length on the moderately austere, firm and impressively long finale. Drinking range: 2033 - Rating: 93-95 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2023)
The 2021 Richebourg Grand Cru was blended with 25% whole clusters, and this is the first year when Liger-Belair stopped ploughing the vines. It has a beautifully composed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit. A touch of graphite in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly austere tannins, finely balanced, a lot of backbone here, with a note of tobacco and allspice on the finish. Moderate length for a Richebourg that will gain more depth through the second winter in barrel. Drinking range: 2026 - 2028 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jan 2023)
Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair
Thibault Liger-Belair has two hectares in Les Saint Georges, the vineyard which gives Nuits the rest of its name, and 60 ares out of a total of 4 hectares of the Grand Cru Richebourg, as well as a good holding in the Clos Vougeot and some well-placed village wines. The vineyards are a good start, but it is Thibault himself who has catapulted this domaine straight into the very top echelons of Côte de Nuits domaines from his first vintage (2002). Thibault was trained as an oenologist but first worked as a wine buyer. He has come to wine making with a wide experience of wine buying, and has had the advantage of having discussed wine-making for many years, with the benefit of his oenological background, with some of the best winemakers of the world. Viticulture is biodynamic (since 2005), yields low but not ludicrously low, everything is pragmatic, so that he should be doing just what is necessary and no more. He uses 40-50% new wood maximum. The wines are bright, pure, focused, aromatic and elegant without lacking anything in the way of stuffing.
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