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

On my November trip I had the opportunity to retaste the 2015s from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair – the wines I first tasted in June 2016.

The 2015 lineup did look both impressive and delightful in June, but I had question marks regarding a few wines that I wanted to calibrate.

Louis-Michel Liger-Belair – June 2016

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

The 2015s has developed more or less as predicted .. they have gained focus and detail, but a few also suffered a bit from reduction in November – so the notes below are a mixture of the June notes and the November notes, as some of the June notes are more representative due to the reduction in some cuvées at the November tasting.

To sum up the 2015s at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair they are quite forward and intense with a excellent weight without being dense – offering a beautiful and effortless generosity .. they sort of reminds me a bit of the 2005 vintage here, as they have this airy and generous fruit, with a lovely ripeness and very agreeable tannins – it should be noted that the tannins in the 2005 Liger-Belair wines were remarkably refined and delicate for the vintage.

Especially the transparency and the hedonistic generosity really impressed and delighted me when tasting the 2015s – the quality has come quite a long way since the 2005 vintage with the 2015s offering more detail and definition. The organic and biodynamic viticulture has in my view brought another balance and focus to the wines .. from say the 2010 vintage and onwards.

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 with other estates there are some wines that really stand out as especially good in 2015 but even the other wines that are excellent offering a great hedonistic experience. Just like I have done in the recent articles I have made some buying recommendations available only to the premium subscribers – these are found below the tasting notes – so enjoy!

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 – the Clos de Vougeot entering the lineup between Aux Reignots and the Echezeaux. It 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.

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 Clos des  Grandes Vignes Blanc is more defined and harmonious than in June. 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. Lovely charming mid-palate fruit – fine detail – this wine has a lovely balance and is quite refined with a nice freshness. The whites from Côte de Nuits is showing well in this hot vintage – with the more “edgy” and powerful structure.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good – (88 – 90p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee 2015

The generic Vosne-Romanee is showing well 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 juicy – with a fine concentration for this level – generous mid-palate focused by a fresh 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+ – (89 – 91p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – 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 – offering more definition and freshness. The nose offer quite amble fruit with a lovely quite floral spicyness. On the palate rich and weighty fruit – juicy, fresh and elegant – with an almost 1er cru like intensity – the acidity is vibrant and energetic – this is a magnificent village in the making. I love the generosity and the balance in this wine.

(Drink from 2027) – Fine+ – (91 – 93p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – from CASK

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

The Clos du Chateau 2015 was in tank already in June and will like the previous years be bottled earlier than the other wines – was prepared for bottling in the beginning of November. 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 (not tasted in November 2016 as it was prepared for bottling).

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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 generous and juicy fruit with a lovely balancing acidity and inner tension – tremendous energy. It’s intense, airy and zappy with a beautifully vibrant red berry fruit – notes of red currant and pomegranate. A truly 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 09/12/2016 – from CASK

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

Les Suchots has done equally well in 2015 – even in the lower located plots in the middle of the bottom part of Les Suchots magnificent wines have been produced. This is also the case with the Liger-Belair Les Suchots 2015. The nose offer rich and very juicy fruit – nice energetic play between vibrant red fruit and some darker berries. On the palate rich and generous fruit, finely focused and balanced by the fresh acidity – so vivid and energetic – with a splendid mix of sweet ripe darker fruits and some fresh pomegranate and red currant notes. Clearly the best Les Suchots I have tasted from this estate.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Cras 2015

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. The Les Cras was quite heavily reduced in November – so note from June is maintained.

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

The Vosne-Romanee Les Petits Monts is not the greatest wine in the Liger-Belair lineup .. but is just so seductive in the most decadently sexy way. The bouquet offer a very floral expression of Vosne .. rich red and dark berry fruit .. presented by  a delicate and filigree minerality. On the palate very elegant and silky with fine mid-palate weight .. very refined, quite intense and decadent – build for hedonistic enjoyment. Is perhaps lacking a bit of the exuberant energy found in Les Suchots – but a very delicate wine it is.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – 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 truly magnificent wine .. a very classic Aux Brulees. This is one of these areas that benefited from the cool breeze from the Combe above Aux Brulees. The nose is very generous and expressive offering layers of red berry fruit powered a quite strong slightly earthy minerality and loads of floral spices. It’s a more juicy and vibrant wine than the more decadent and flilgree Les Petits-Monts – and on the general level it seems that Aux Brulees has produced better wines than Le Peitis Monts in 2015. On the palate rich and velvet fruit – lovely pomegranate notes giving the wine nerve and freshness. A truly generous and vibrant Aux Brulees in the making … Magnificent!

(Drink from 2028) – Outstanding(94 – 95p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – 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 truly 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. From other tastings it seems that Premeaux has done better in 2015 than the main southern part of NSG – retaining more freshness. So seem to be the case here; The bouquet offer generous and juicy red and dark berry fruit very expressive with some spicy oak notes interlinked with the earthy Premeaux minerality. On the palate rich, intense and with a lovely silky texture – lovely tension and energy. Its very harmonious with the slightly edgy NSG minerality swept in layers of ripe and pure fruit. Chapeau!

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 09/12/2016 – 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 yet powerful Aux Reignots in the making.

(Drink from 2030) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – 09/12/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Clos de Vougeot 2015

The new wine for Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in the 2015 vintage; The Clos de Vougeot has come a long way since the tasting in June. As always the oak integrates rather slowly with a Clos des Vougeot and the five month on cask has improved the impression of the Clos de Vogeot.

The Clos de Vougeot is perhaps still the most backward wine of the range, but now more detail is revealed and the balance and focus is in place. The bouquet offer a darker and more densely constituted fruit than the Echezeaux with a deeper and more earthy minerality – oak more integrated now. On the palate layers of rich and velvet fruit – silky and juicy – with a vibrant and fresh acidity to focus and balance the wine. It’s a big wine but the energy and acidity really provide all the tension needed to make this a very interesting Clos de Vougeot – hence an upgrade here rating wise.

(Drink from 2032) – Outstanding – (95 – 96p) – 09/12/2016 – 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 – exuberant fruit notes and layered depth. The palate offer rich and lavish layers of juicy fruit – tremendous energy and depth in the fruit .. it’s fresh and very vibrant offering a tension found only in the best 2015s. This is a unique wine that rivals the outstanding Echezeaux 2010 … magnificent juice.

(Drink from 2030) – Outstanding+ – (96 – 97p) – 09/12/2016 – from CASK

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Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2015

I could update this note with the November impressions – but no need – as I already in June was lost for words!
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
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 2014
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Cras 2014
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Echezeaux 2014
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château 2014
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée La Colombière 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2013
• Domaine Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2007 in magnum
• Domaine Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Chateau 2018
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne Clos du Chateau 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos de Chateau 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2016
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2006
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots 2009
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2015
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee 2010
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Clos du Chateau 2011
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Echezeaux 2011

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

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