Visit Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair – tasting of the 2015 vintage

Back where it all started five years ago – tasting at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair.

The Winehog blog was conceptualized during a tasting at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in July 2011 – a tasting that also had the partizipation of Clive Coates and Roy Richards of Richards Wallford.

It was a very memorable tasting where we tasted the 2010 vintage from cask .. and some older wines – including the mighty La Romanee 2005.

So now 5 years later the blog has matured and the concept has developed tremendously since that fine day in 2011.

It is however still an event and a treat to taste the latest vintage from Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, and the expectations were high before tasting the 2015 vintage …. so lets begin.

Louis-Michel Liger-Belair – June 2016

Tasting of the 2015s from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

Let me just start by admitting that I adore the wines from this estate … they just drink so tremendously well … and since 2010 quality has been at a extremely high level .. so perhaps I’m somewhat biased by my hedonistic addiction

The 2015s here are elegant, forward and intense with a excellent weight without being dense .. they sort of reminds me a bit of the 2005 vintage, as they have this airy and generous fruit, with a lovely ripeness and very agreeable tannins. Especially the transparency and the gentle generosity really impressed me when tasting the 2015s – the quality has come a long way since the 2005 vintage.

The viticulture and the vinification has improved and the wines has been taken to another level of balance and refinement.

The 2015s are indeed somewhat hotter than the 2010s but still have a fresh and juicy fruit and they are wonderfully balanced. I still have the 2010s as the best vintage from this estate, but I think the 2015s could well rival and surpass all the other top vintages from the estate. I very much prefer the 2015s to the 2009s from here .. as they seem to have a better energy and freshness ..

As with other estates there are some wines that stand out in 2015 .. as very special .. but even the other wines that are excellent and a joy to taste.

Tasting notes for the Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair 2015s

The tasting included the usual lineup but also included the recent addition to the range – Clos de Vougeot. Just for the record – Louis-Michel Liger-Belair uses 100% new oak for all wines except for the white, where the share of new oak is around 30%.

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, NSG Clos des Grandes Vignes Blanc 2015

The fourth vintage of this white for Louis-Michel – from the vineyard Clos des Grandes Vignes in the southern end of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The vines were re-grafted with Chardonnay by the previous owner Etienne de Montille in 2010 – so this is a fairly new vineyard for the whites.

The 2015 whites are better than expected, and has a good balance and more freshness than anticipated when tasting the first 2015s at the Hospice de Beaune in November 2015. The nose offer lovely exotic orchard fruits with a citrus infused earthy minerality and a quite discrete dose of new oak. On the palate quite rich but still focused by a for the vintage fine acidity. This wine has a lovely balance and is quite refined with a nice freshness.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good – (88 – 90p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee 2015

The generic Vosne-Romanee is really showing of in this vintage. The bouquet offer juicy red and dark berry fruit .. expressive and quite floral with a wide range of Vosne spices. On the palate very juicy – with a fine concentration for this level – generous mid-palate focused by a fresh almost citrusy acidity. This cuvée is improving year after year and is now a wine in it’s own right – and not completely overshadowed by the two lieu-dits.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good+ – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Colombiere 2015

The Vosne-Romanee Colombiere is a step up from the generic village – and also a more serious and backward wine at this stage – presumably mostly due to a slight reduction. The nose offer amble fruit but is somewhat influenced by the reduction currently. On the palate rich and weighty fruit – juicy fresh and elegant – with an almost 1er cru like intensity – this is a magnificent village in the making. I love the generosity and the balance in this wine – looking forward to see this unfold.

(Drink from 2027) – Fine+ – (91 – 93p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Clos du Chateau 2015

The Clos du Chateau 2015 is in tank already and will like the previous years be bottled earlier than the other wines. This is one of the wines with the 2015 magic – and perhaps not very typical for the vintage with it’s light-footed, floral and airy expression. Clos du Chateau is one of the signature wines of the estate – with it’s prominent location just below the Chateau – and with it’s very expressive and mineral driven style that is the essence of Vosne character. The 2015 offer the generous fruit of energy of the vintage – but combined with the magic airiness of this terroir. The nose is bursting with fruit and Vosne spices – expressive and floral in a unrestrained and natural way. On the palate rich yet light-footed with a long intense airy feel … so juicy and effortless. Adore the expressive and airy style of this wine .. so refined and delicate.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from Tank

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Chaumes 2015

The Vosne-Romanee Les Chaumes is in my view also one of the special wines in 2015 showing exuberant energy and generosity. The nose is brimming with rich fruit and Vosne spices – coming from a plot located just below the original part of La Tâche. On the palate very rich, juicy and generous fruit – tremendous energy. It’s intense yet airy and zappy with a beautiful red berry fruit. This is a magnificent Les Chaumes – the best I have tasted from this estate so far – this is true 1er cru level.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Suchots 2015

Les Suchots is also showing beautifully in 2015 although it’s perhaps not the ideal vintage for this slightly dense terroir (speaking of the lower part of the vineyard). The nose offer rich and ample fruit a nice minerality – with the fruit being somewhat on the darker side than the expressive Les Chaumes. On the palate rich and ample fruit, finely focused and balanced by the fresh acidity – a bigger wine than Les Chaumes – but I do prefer the energetic style of Les Chaumes

(Drink from 2028) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Cras 201

Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Cras is strangely 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.

This is to die for .. or preferably with … The nose is brimming with fruit and minerality – expressive although slightly reduced – offering an array of red berries and the salty mineral note that makes this wine so special. On the palate juicy and vibrant red fruit brought forward by a citrus infused minerality and a energetic stony minerality. A absolutely gorgeous Les Cras … buy it – and share the bottles with me.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Les Petit Monts 2015

Liquid sex … the Vosne-Romanee Les Petits Monts is not the greatest wine in the Liger-Belair lineup .. but is just so seductive in the most sexy way. The bouquet offer a very floral expression of Vosne .. rich predominantly red berry fruit .. served with a delicate and filigree minerality. On the palate very elegant almost silky with fine mid-palate weight .. very refined, quite intense and gorgeous – build for hedonistic enjoyment at an almost sinful level.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Aux Brulees 2015

The Vosne-Romanee Aux Brulees is sadly not made for commercial use .. but only used for tastings and charity events. The 2015 edition is a mighty wine .. a very classic Aux Brulees. The nose is very generous and expressive offering layers of red berry fruit powered a quite strong slightly earthy minerality. It’s a more dense and powerful wine than the light-footed Les Petits-Monts. On the palate rich and velvet fruit – lovely pomegranate notes giving the wine nerve and freshness. A very generous Aux Brulees in the making …

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Louis-Michel Liger-Belair – November 2014

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes 2015

When Louis-Michel began his journey with Nuits Saint Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes I must say that I was a bit doubtful whether this wine could take a high position in the impressive range of wines the estate offers. I have been amazed and surprised by the progress and the rapid improvement in quality .. and the 2015 is a further step up in quality from the delightful 2014.

The 2015 Clos des Grandes Vignes is the best wine from this terroir so far. The yield in 2015 was only 17hl per ha .. and this definitely contributes to the quality and intensity of the wine. The bouquet offer generous and juicy red and dark berry fruit – slightly reduced – but quite expressive with some spicy oak notes interlinked with the earthy Premeaux minerality. On the palate rich, intense and very harmonious with the slightly edgy NSG minerality swept in layers of ripe and pure fruit. Love the energy and the combination of the lavish fruit and the Nuits-Saint-Georges terroir ….

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2015

The Aux Reignot 2015 is a quite monumental wine for this level. The nose is bursting with layers of ripe fruit – detailed red berry notes accompanied by a beautiful stony minerality. On the palate rich, fresh and very intense – weighty mid-palate fruit focused and brought forward by a fresh acidity and the powerful drive from the tremendous minerality of the Reignots vineyard. It’s vibrant, very long and generous .. a classic Reignots in the making.

(Drink from 2030) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2015

The Echezeaux is a masterpiece and confirms that Les Cruots has produced some magnificent wines in the 2015 vintage. The nose is an explosion of red berries and spicy minerality. The palate offer rich and lavish layers of ripe fruit – tremendous energy and depth in the fruit .. it’s fresh and very vibrant offering a nerve found only in the best 2015s. This is a unique wine that rivals the outstanding Echezeaux 2010 … I’m blown away and blessed to taste a wine like this. MAGNIFICENT JUICE!

(Drink from 2030) – Outstanding – (95 – 96p) – 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Clos de Vougeot 2015

Clos de Vogeot – the new wine in the Liger-Belair lineup … exiting to see how Louis-Michel will express this terroir. The Clos de Vougeot comes from a plot in the mid-southern part of the vineyard – quite close to the wall towards Vosne-Romanee. The viticulture is certified organic, and should therefore give a high quality even in the first vintages as the vineyard already has been converted. The Clos de Vougeot is the most backward wine of the range, as it absorbs the oak differently .. but at the same time it’s also a big wine and even more concentrated that the great Echezeaux. The bouquet offer a darker and more densely constituted fruit than the Echezeaux with the oak quite forward as it is quite normal with wines from Clos de Vougeot at this stage. On the palate layers of rich and velvet fruit – silky and weighty – with a fine and fresh acidity to balance the wine. It’s very long and intense and due to the acidity it has a fine energy for this terroir. It will be exiting to follow this wine and see how it unfolds – a very fine Clos de Vougeot in the making.

(Drink from 2032) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – 15/06/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2015

The rich and lawish fruit of the 2015 vintage is the perfect platform for a great La Romanee. The Bouquet is bursting with multiple layers of red coulis fruit, Violets, peony rose and oriental spices all invigorated by the filigree and intense minerality of this refined terroir. On the palate very generous and extravagant red berry fruit – held in a firm grip by the powerful minerality. The fruit is fresh and vibrant and driven by the acidity infused minerality into the impressively long and intense finish. Love the cool and vibrant fruit – the focused generosity .. I’m really lost for words – what a wine!

(Drink from 2032) – Extraordinary – (98 – 99p) – 15/06/2016 – 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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