Tasting of the 2014s from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

On my November 2015 trip to Burgundy I had the opportunity to taste the 2014s from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair.

As usual I entered the gate to Chateau Vosne-Romanee with high expectations and was greeted by a cheerful Louis-Michel Liger-Belair and his very large but lovely dog Arak.

Constance and Louis-Michel Liger-Belair

The scene was set to taste a row of deligthful wines from Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

This year I had the pleasure of tasting the wines with a group of US collectors from the Chevalier du Tastevin – always lovely to meet fellow Burgundy aficionados – a fine afternoon in Vosne.

Tasting of the 2014s from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

The overall impression of the 2014s reds from Liger-Belair is very positive indeed.

The wines are delicate and refined with a nice intensity – without being weighty or dense. Beautiful balance and transparency focused by a nice energetic acidity.

While the 2014s lack the power of the 2010s they share the refinement and juiciness and are perhaps even more delicate … bottom line my kind of Burgundies and very enjoyable wines.

Tasting notes for the Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair 2014s

The tasting included the most of the lineup including the two recent additions to the range –  Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes white and red. Louis-Michel uses 100% new oak for all wines except for the white, where the share of new oak is 22% .. down from 40% in 2013.

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, NSG Clos des Grandes Vignes Blanc 2014

The third – and so far – the best vintage of this white for Louis-Michel – from the recently acquired vineyard Clos des Grandes Vignes in the southern end of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The vines were re-grafted with Chardonnay in 2010 – so this is a fairly new vineyard for the whites.

The 2014s whites are magnificent … and this is also the case with the Clos des Grandes Vignes. The nose is sligthtly closed … offering fine pure fruit, pear, white peach and with a hint of apple. On the palate quite generous juicy fruit – the trademark of the vintage – playful acidity and a lovely focus and purity. The vintage suits white Cote de Nuits well … as the charming fruit goes well with the sligtly “edgy” character of the NSG whites. Well done!

(Drink from 2022) – Fine – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee 2014

The Vosne Romanee Village is open, forward and very expressive for this stage – only a slight reduction. The bouquet is offering fine red and dark berry fruit spiced with violets, white pepper and cinnamon. The palate show lovely juicy fruit – fine pure and energetic core of red fruit. Love the tension, balance and drikability of this wine – gorgeous.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good+ – (89 – 91p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Colombiere 2014

The Vosne-Romanee Colombiere is quite a step up from the generic village – but also a slightly more serious wine. In the nose more dense and intense fruit – lovely depth – offering a less floral and deeper expression of Vosne-Romanee. On the palate same story – quite weighty fruit for this level … vibrant and delightfully focused with a lovely core of juicy fruit. Colombiere is improving every year and is now close to the Clos du Chateau quality wise … but stylewise it’s less expressive and floral. What do I prefer? – both!

(Drink from 2025) – Fine – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Clos du Chateau 2014

The Clos du Chateau 2014 was bottled already in September … so this note is based on a tasting of the bottled wine. I would not say that Clos du Chateau is another big step up in quality from Colombiere … but it’s most certainly much more floral and expressive offering more minerality and Vosne spicyness. The bouquet offers juicy fruit, crisp minerality and loads of Vosne spices. On the palate fine very juicy fruit – delicate and refined – with a vibrant and very charming acidity driven fruit. While this is a quite intense wine it appears lightfooted and very expressive … gorgeous juice .. a essential expression of Vosne-Romanee.

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (92p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from Bottle

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Suchots 2014

Louis-Michel really nailed Les Suchots in 2014 – it’s vibrant, juicy and quite expressive. In the bouquet a delicate collection of red and darker berries – quite floral (15% whole cluster). On the palate fine focus and definition, a deep juicy fruit and a fine balance from the energetic acidity. The whole clusters really bring forward the best in this  wine – a magnificent Suchots one of the best I have tasted from this estate.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Cras 2014

Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Cras is a slightly overlooked terroir … but in my view one of the very best terroirs in the appellation. This terroir renders a mineralic drive and energy to the wine … adding a lot of complexity and nerve making it one of the most complete terroirs in NSG.

The bouquet in the 2014 edition is offering a beautiful red and dark berry fruit brought forward by a lovely vivid slightly salty minerality. On the palate juicy and very delicate fruit … layered with a lovely verve and energy. Lovely core of red fruit .. quite weighty and with fine length .. love this terroir.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Fine – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Petit Monts 2014

The Vosne Les Petits Monts seems more fruit driven than usually at this stage. In the quite floral and delightfully perfumed bouquet – loads of delicate sweet red fruit with notes of dark forest berries, hint of pomegranate, allspice and peony rose. On the palate lovely intense fruit – very juicy core on midpalate. The minerality is filigree and interlinked in the very delicate fruit – beautiful verve. Slightly less floral that normally – adore this wine.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Louis-Michel Liger-Belair – November 2014

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes 2014

The Nuits Saint Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes has taken a further step forward quality wise in the 2014 vintage – adding more focus and definition to the wine. In the bouquet – slight reduction – otherwise quite forward offering fresh red and dark berry fruit spiced by a nice earthy minerality. On the palate lovely juicy fruit – transparent and energetic with a delightful delicacy and definition. Impressed by the purity and the micro complexity and delighted by the energy and verve.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2014

While I love the Reignots terroir it’s sometimes a bit rough around the edges compared to the feminine delicacy of Les Petits Monts. The 2014 Aux Reignots is however a bit different, as the delightful fruit of the 2014 vintage has transformed this wine into a quite sensual and delicate wine. In the bouquet mineral infused red berry fruit intense and refined with a nice floral touch. On the palate layers of – primarily – red fruit – very well balanced by the fine acidity and the slightly salty and smoky minerality of the Reignots terroir. The midpalate fruit is very juicy – coating the vivid minerality with red berry aromas and a silky touch … energetic, vibrant and adorable.

(Drink from 2030) – Very Fine+ – (94p) – 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2014

The Echezeaux is one of my favorites of the Liger-Belair lineup – made from old vines in the climates Cruots, Champs Traversin and a small plot in Clos St. Denis. The 2014 edition of the Echezeaux is slightly backward at this stage – with a slight reduction on the nose. The bouquet is nevertheless offering layers of juicy red and dark fruits – notes of strawberries, boysenberries, pomegranate – energized by the filigree minerality and fresh acidity. On the palate layers rich and very juicy fruit … brought forward by the multidimensional filigree minerality. The acidity is fresh rather than powerful – a very balanced and refined wine witht lovely depth and length. A sensual wine in the making.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine+ – (95p) – 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2014

La Romanee is a as always quite a step up from the Echezeaux … to a more serious yet also refined level. In the bouquet layers of very delicate red fruit – notes of strawberries, boysenberries, cherries, violets and peony rose – brought forward by a both very refined and powerful filigree minerality. On the palate layers of juicy and delicate fruit – a intense yet also very delicate wine with a tremendous underlying minerality. The combination of the juicy and delicate red fruit of the 2014 vintage and the powerful but filigree minerality is bound for greatness and delicacy … pure pinot pleasure in the making.

(Drink from 2030) – Outstanding+ – (96 – 97p) – 16/11/2015 – from CASK

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Lastest Tasting Notes for this producer

• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Echezeaux 2019 July 4, 2023
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 2014 April 15, 2023
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Cras 2014 April 15, 2023
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Echezeaux 2014 April 14, 2023
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château 2014 October 25, 2022
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée La Colombière 2009 October 21, 2022
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2013 March 23, 2022
• Domaine Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2007 in magnum September 8, 2021
• Domaine Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2018 September 8, 2021
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne Clos du Chateau 2009 January 3, 2020
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos de Chateau 2009 July 26, 2019
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2016 March 6, 2019
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2009 March 6, 2019
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2009 October 17, 2018
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2006 September 6, 2018
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2009 May 1, 2018
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2015 December 15, 2017
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2010 December 5, 2017
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2011 December 2, 2017
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2011 July 20, 2017

All tasting notes for Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair (click here)

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