2006 NUITS SAINT GEORGES 1er Cru Les Saint Georges Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair

Bright crimson. Sweet morello cherries quite a feat in this vintage! The oak is there but it's very fine. I have to take my hat off to this balancing act, Bravo! Probably the best value wine of this domaine in 2006. I was sorely tempted to swallow. What more can I say? 2011-19   17.5+

Lifted floral nose. Dark cherry, bitter chocolate and a hint of cocoa, suggesting very ripe fruit. Yet not all lacking freshness. An attractive lick of VA, in a low SO2 regime-way, giddies up the mouth. Very energetic, with acidity and a mineral tow propelling this into a long finish. Very drinkable. Most mellifluous of the wines thus far.

(from a huge 2.10 ha parcel). An extremely subtle and, at this very early juncture, relatively inexpressive nose of ripe black pinot fruit and violet notes that are in keeping with the supple flavors that are perhaps not quite as concentrated as one might prefer but this is undeniably classy and delivers fine finishing punch, energy and backend persistence on the explosive finish. While not a big wine, it’s refined, pure and altogether lovely. 2014+   91/100

Thibault Liger-Belair (pictured) - the rather more, ahem, substantial Liger-Belair, as opposed to Vosne Romanée's Prince of Belair - is lucky enough to own almost a third of the 7.5 ha premier cru Les St-Georges, the jewel of Nuit-St-Georges (which was named after it, after all). Indeed, local gossip is that it will be officially elevated to a grand cru soon. Jump in before the wines are priced at grand cru level! Like all Thibault Liger-Belair's vineyards, this has been Ecocert-certifed organic for some time and is always one of his big successes. He does not make light wines. But nor are they ridiculously overweighted by oak. They are agreeably plump. I have tasted Dom Thibault Liger-Belair, Les St-Georges Premier Cru 2006 Nuits-St-Georges at least five times now, most recently in a blind line-up of premier cru and grand cru red burgundies, and scored it 17.5, writing, 'Rusty ruby colour. Like a heady fruit cocktail on the nose. Sweet start and very charming. Just ready to drink and drenched in easy-to-appreciate red fruit flavours.' I think it will have many delicious years ahead of it but it would be absolutely stunning with any special meal, especially one featuring roast turkey, over the coming weeks.

Very rich and round and the first wine I have found that is so ripe that it covers the structure. Big and bold. Not a silly price. Very complete, within the context of 2006. Very long and charming - amazing length. 2012-20   17

Deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of cherry, leather, iron and smoke, with a faint candied element. Sweet and rich, with a flavor of chocolate-covered cherry. A second sample was fresher in the mouth, with impressive density and a strong, long finish featuring firm, slightly edgy tannins. Liger-Belair notes that he picked this vineyard two days too late in 2005.   90-93/100