CLOS VOUGEOT

2019 Grand Cru Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair

EN PRIMEUR

On the southern end of the Clos. Part is vines planted in 1942, the rest is younger vines from 1992. The younger vines part is all de-stemmed, while the old vines fruit goes in as whole bunch (40% of the total, although they represent 60% of the surface area). Thibault says that he has all three of the main soil types of the Clos. Not a big rustic wine but one with real finesse - in fact the nose recalls the Chambolle-like floral purity of 'les Violettes' the other side of the wall. The palate has freshness and fine tannins - but this has true Grand Cru depth and class. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040L&S (Oct 2020)

* 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.

A dense dark crimson purple. The bouquet is ripe and heady, verging on the cooked. Menthol and cooked cherry with a dry finish. Certainly awkward at the moment, but the persistence of the fruit suggests that this could just be very closed. Drink from 2028-2035. Tasted: September 2023. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035 Rating: *** Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy  (Nov 2023)

(from a .72 ha parcel on the Vosne side in the middle against the southern wall; 40% whole cluster but without the central stem). An overtly floral nose with touches of herbal tea is composed by ultra-fresh aromas of dark berries and a hint of warm earth. There is very good size, weight and punch to the relatively large-scaled flavors that flash good power on the delicious yet decidedly austere finish that is also quite firmly structured. Promising. Drinking range: 2036 - Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Jan 2021)

The old vines from 1944 were vinified with their stems, whereas the younger vines (1992) which had also been slightly frosted were destalked. The overall blend included just under half whole bunches. Rich full purple, detailed nose alongside its natural blockbuster attitude. Heady but happy here. Rich succulent deep raspberry fruit, well balanced tannins, very complete and quite persistent. Tasted: November 2020 **** Rating: 94 - 96 Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy  (Jan 2021)

Cask sample. Bright crimson – not too deep. Not quite as oxidised as the Charmes-Chambertin but not the freshest sample. Sinewy and refreshing rather than sweet with masses of fine tannin. This should age well. Savoury and intriguing. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Jan 2021)

From the southern side of the clos, the 2019 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru includes 40% whole bunch from the parcel planted in 1944. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, opening to reveal blackberry, briary, cedar and light loamy aromas. The palate is nicely structured with firm grip, touches of black pepper and blood orange infusing the mainly black fruit. The finish just needs to manifest a little more finesse, and that might happen during the remainder of barrel maturation, of course. Drinking range: 2023 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 2020)

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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Wines bought en primeur are scheduled to arrive in the UK over the course of the next eighteen months. If you do not wish to take home delivery, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our primeurs team for more information.

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BURGUNDY EN PRIMEUR FAQ

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