Comte Liger-Belair 2012 and 2010's

A fairly new experience for me, not that I haven't heard of or dreamt of tasting the wines of Comte Liger-Belair for years, but the oportunity had not presented itself. My first taste was a bottle I found in London last November, a 2009 Nuits-Saint-Georges Charmotte, a bottle I shared with my mother at the hotell before dinner, and I remember it's excellent purity and how quickly the bottle was emptied. Then I got one blind last February, I thought it was 2005 Romanée-Saint-Vivant from DRC, and it turned out to be 06 Comte Liger-Belair La Romanée. What a wine! That made me even more keen on a visit. I'm like a duck when I taste wine or visit excellent wine producers, fairly calm over the water, and feets going like crazy beneath. This was better than being a kid on Christmas Eve.

Here we are at the corner of Romanée-Conti and the vineyards of Romanée-Conti continues up until the "different pattern" in the vineyard below the horse in the picture, where the vines of La Romanée takes over. What a treat it was to have a vineyard walk between these hallowed vineyards with Liger-Belair himself. The most priced vineyard's in the world where young and talented Louis-Michel Liger-Belair have been able to repossess the old family holdings in a remarkable speed as he set out to reestablish the family domaine  just over ten years ago. The wine of legend is back.

2012 Liger-Belair Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes Blanc:

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some yellow fruits and some minerals on the nose. Fresh acidity, fruity with slight tropical notes and minerals touch, long. 90

2012 Liger-Belair Nuits-Saint-Georges Elevieres:

Bright ruby. Strawberries, some herbs, scented and a very pure feel. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and elegant, lovely balance, long. 90

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée:

Bright ruby. Scented, red berries and ever so slightly spicy on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, somewhat denser style for "plain" VR, very elegant and lovely balance, good length. 89

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Les Colombieres:

Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, nuanced, spices and ripe but never rich berries on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, somwhat leaner and more focused palate, lovely texture, long finish. 90

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château:

Bright ruby. Scented nose, red berries, lighter spices, vibrant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, vibrant, elegant, refreshing, nuanced, lovely indeed. Flirting. Superb balance. Long. 91

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes:

Bright ruby, purple tint. Scented, floral, fruity, red berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, gorgeous texture, elegant and lovely balance, long. 93

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots:

Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, floral, nuanced and very elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, vibrant, elegant, gorgeous texture, mouthwatering, playful. Wonderful. 93+

2012 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Brulées:

Bright ruby. Tighter nose, red berries, scented, somewhat floral behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing, lively and fruity palate, lovely texture, almost roses touch on the aftertaste, gorgeous and long. 93

2010 Liger-Belair Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Cras:

Bright ruby. Red berries, a slight touch of herbs, gorgeous scented and floral notes on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, elegant, refined, long. Energetic and refreshing. 91

2010 Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Reignots:

Bright ruby. Refreshing nose, red berries, scented, nuanced and floral nose. Touch of spices below. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant, refreshing and mouthwatering, lively and long. 93

2010 Liger-Belair Echézeaux:

Bright ruby. Elegant red berries, scented, layered and complex nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, gorgeous, texture, superb balance, refreshing, long and nuanced, slightly tannic backbone, long. 95

2010 Liger-Belair La Romanée:

Bright ruby. Minerals, red berries, scented, so nuanced and layered on the nose. Complex and refined. Touch of spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, stunning fruit, texture and body, gorgeous balance, stunning mouthfeel. Incredibly long. Superb. 98