Thibault Liger-Belair – Influential Nuits-Saint-Georges Producer Making Waves in Beaujolais

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair “Les Jeunes Pousses” (Beaujolais-Villages 2015)
Special 6-pack price: $146 (~$24/bottle)

Cousin to Vicomte Liger-Belair of La Romanée fame, in 2001 Thibault Liger-Belair took over storied family property in Nuits-Saint-Georges, reclaiming vineyards which had been contracted out to various share croppers and creating a new domaine under his own name. The properties include some of the most hallowed vineyards in Burgundy: The Grands Crus of Richebourg and Clos de Vougeot, as well as the Premier Cru of Les Saint-Georges that is one of the few vineyards in modern-era Burgundy to be considered for promotion to Grand Cru.

In 2008, Thibault decided to deploy his talent and knowledge in the Cru Beaujolais appellation of Moulin-à-Vent. He did a portion of his education a few miles south in the village of Belleville and was always fascinated by the beauty of the region, its landscapes, and the quality and diversity of its granite soils. The vineyards of Moulin-à-Vent reminded him of the Burgundian terroirs and he purchased several different parcels with the goal of producing wines that reflect their individual climat.

The methods Thibault uses in Beaujolais were adapted from his experience in the Côte de Nuits. The vines are cultivated using biodynamic practices. He claims that the work in the vineyards is done to awaken the soil and its terroir by encouraging the roots to go deeper in search of nourishment. He seeks to produce his Beaujolais wines without carbonic maceration because he considers that style of vinification to result in many indistinguished wines.

“Les Jeunes Pousses” Beaujolais-Villages starts powerfully fragrant with violets and dark cherries. Although easy to drink, as Beaujolais-Villages ought to be, there is a vein of iron-metallic energy at the wine’s core leading all the way to a finish of crunchy ripe tannins. This is a Beaujolais-Villages with the gravitas of the Côte de Nuits.

More Wines from Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair

Special discount prices apply to all wines from Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair when six or more bottles are purchased. These are wines that are high in demand so quantities are limited.

2014 Vintage

~$34 “Grands Chaillots” Rouge (Bourgogne 2014)
Structured Bourgogne from a plot in the city of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

~$39 “La Corvée de Villy” Rouge (Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2014)
From a 1.7 acre plot planted in 1988 and located on the Chaux plateau above Nuits-Saint-Georges.

~$80 “La Croix des Champs” (Gevrey-Chambertin 2014)
From a parcel in the center of the commune and just below the Route des Grands Crus.

~$80 “La Charmotte” (Nuits-Saint-Georges 2014)
From a parcel located on the edge of the Premiers Crus “Argilats” and “Bousselots” in the northern part of the appellation.

$117 “Aux Réas” (Vosne-Romanée 2014)
From a 1.3 acre parcel planted in 1956 on the edge of the Premier Cru “Clos des Réas.”

$162 “Les Saint-Georges” (Nuits-Saint-Georges, Premier Cru 2014)
Old vines from the top vineyard in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Thibault Liger-Belair owns more than a quarter of the 18 acres that make up the appellation.

$243 Clos Vougeot (Grand Cru 2014)
From 1.8 acres of vines planted in 1948 located in the southern portion of the vineyard at the corner of the wall separating the Grand Cru of Echézeaux.

$243 Charmes-Chambertin (Grand Cru 2014)
Located on the highest part of the vineyard just in front of the border between Lattricières-Chambertins and Chambertins.

2009 Vintage

~$108 “La Toppe au Vert” Rouge (Aloxe-Corton, Premier Cru 2009)
From a 0.7 acre plot planted in 1965 located in the heart of the village of Ladoix-Serrigny.

$135 “Les Gruenchers” (Chambolle Musigny, Premier Cru 2009)
Located north of the appellation on deep clay soils just below the Grand Cru of Bonnes Mares.

$270 Clos Vougeot (Grand Cru 2009)
From 1.8 acres of vines planted in 1948 located in the southern portion of the vineyard at the corner of the wall separating the Grand Cru of Echézeaux.

2003 Vintage

$216 “Les Saint-Georges” (Nuits-Saint-Georges, Premier Cru 2003)
Old vines from the top vineyard in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Thibault Liger-Belair owns more than a quarter of the 18 acres that make up the appellation.

- - -
Posted on 2018.01.06 in Saturday Sips Wines, France, Beaujolais, Burgundy  |  Read more...

Countdown to the New Year: Sparkling Wine & Champagne Tasting Every Day

Every day until The New Year we’ll be sampling from our large and elaborate selection of small-production, sparkling wines and grower Champagnes from Grand and Premier Cru vineyards.

We’ll be featuring wines from some of the leading producers in their respective regions, from inexpensive yet intricate Cava from Spain to the foremost cuvées in Champagne with prices starting at $19.99.

These are the work of passionate small producers and individual growers who are deeply connected to the particularities of each of their vine parcels and believe that wine is made in the vineyard first. They craft wines that express terroir by rigorous work in the vineyards, picking fruit at its peak, and employing minimal intervention in the cellar.

From Spain we feature Raimon Badell of Celler Masia Can Tutusaus, who believes in making contemporary wines that respect Mediterranean culture without becoming mired in convention. And Raventós i Blanc, one of the few producers of Spanish sparkling wine at the same level of the top Grower/Producers of Champagne.

Of course we have a vast selection of wine from Champagne proper. Like brothers Laurent and Jean-Hervé Chiquet who operate their small but venerable house, Champagne Jacquesson, much like a grower operation. From the Côte des Blancs we have several cuvées from top Grower Erick De Sousa based in the Grand Cru of Avize. Just south of De Sousa in the Premier Cru of Vertus we have wines from renowned Growers Larmandier-Bernier and Veuve Fourny. And from the Aube region, the southernmost portion of Champagne, the succulent wines of Champagne Serge Mathieu.

For something a little more unusual, we have Thierry Germain‘s sparkling Chenin Blanc from Saumur and a wild sparkler made with Fiano and Aglianico from DeConciliis in Campania, Italy. We even have a Champagne Ratafia (fortified vin doux naturel dessert wine) from Guy Charlemagne.

Of course, if you are looking for that extra special bottle we also have a selection of the foremost cuvées in all of Champagne, including 1999 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire, 2004 Salon, 2006 Pol Roger Winston Churchill, and 2005 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses, just to name a few.

- - -
Posted on 2017.12.24 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Spain DO, Champagne, Cava  |  Read more...

Terrasses du Larzac – Hip Southern French Reds

One of the most exciting wine regions in France right now is Terrasses du Larzac. Newly minted with appellation status in 2014, the area is distinguished for its unique climate that benefits from both the warm Mediterranean sea and the cool air that blows down from the Larzac plateau on summer nights, creating wines that are fresh, yet delicate, with silky tannins, and the earthy garrigue aromas characteristic of the Languedoc. It’s a region that can be described as something like a marriage of the ripeness of Southern Rhône with the energy of Northern Rhône.

Many young and talented winemakers are flocking here to take advantage of this region — capable of producing some of the best wines in the Languedoc — while the real estate remains affordable. We have already featured two domaines receiving accolades in Jean-Baptiste Granier of Les Vignes Oubliées and the couple Vincent and Sophie Guizard of Domaine Saint Sylvestre.

Another winemaking couple on the rise are Béatrice and Sébastien Fillon of Le Clos du Serres. In 2006 they purchased 37 acres divided into 15 parcels near the town of Saint Jean de la Blaquière, the only area in the Terrasses du Larzac where schist is to be found. The diversity of the soil across all of their parcels includes schist, sandstone, pebbles & shingle, and red ruffes (deep deposits of sandstone accumulated some 265 million years ago and exposed by erosion). It is this range of terroir that gives their wines a character all their own.

The vineyards are cultivated organically and all parcels are harvested and vinified separately to maintain each of the parcel’s distinct qualities. This meticulous raising and handling of the fruit is key to the quality of the wines of Le Clos du Serres and will ensure their steady ascent.

Le Clos du Serres “Saint-Jean” (Terrasses du Larzac 2017)
Special 6-pack Price: $129 ($22/bottle) 
“Saint-Jean” is a blend of 25% each Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Oeillade (a grape indigenous to the Languedoc and close to extinction). It’s a wine that expresses all the terroir the village has to offer, coming from plots of schist, sandstone, pebbles and ruffes. After maturation for 12 months in concrete vats the result is a wine that is luscious with fruit but balanced, with floral, spice, and red berry aromatics.

Le Clos du Serres “Les Maros” (Terrasses du Larzac 2016)
Special 6-pack Price: $167 ($28/bottle) 
“Les Maros” is a single parcel of schist west of the village. The wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 20% Carignan from the coolest vineyard area of the estate. Although the wine is matured for 12 months in concrete vats like the “Saint-Jean” it is weightier and more concentrated. The flavors tend toward black fruit and licorice with a mouth-filling texture and lengthy finish.

- - -
Posted on 2017.12.14 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Languedoc-Roussillon  |  Read more...

Red Côtes-du-Rhône – the Warmth of Southern France in a Bottle

Maxime-François Laurent “Il Fait Soif” (Côtes-du-Rhône 2016)
Special 6-pack Price: $146 (~$24/bottle) SOLD OUT

The Southern Rhône is a magical place. On a sweeping tumble of broad terraces beneath villages of ancient glory lie sun-drenched vineyards filled with the scents of thyme and lavender. To drink a good bottle of Côtes-du-Rhône is to drink the warmth of southern France.

Young Maxime-François Laurent’s star is on the rise. He grew up at the esteemed Domaine Gramenon watching his talented father Philippe produce edgy wines until his tragic death in 1999. His mother, Michèle, stepped in to the role of vigneron and has brought the wines of Domaine Gramenon to near cult status. After schooling and winemaking experience in Burgundy, Maxime-François returned home to work beside his mother and begin bottling cuvées at the domaine under his own name where he captures the essence of the microclimate of the northeastern village of Montbrison-sur-Lez.

The Laurents do not merely champion biodynamic farming, they incorporate the concept of sustainability into their daily lives by growing their own food and raising their own animals. Their approach to winemaking is similar. The harvest is hand-picked and sorted to ensure only the best fruit is selected. The cellar is gravity-fed for minimal handling of the juice. The wines are typically aged in neutral oak demi-muids and foudres. All fermentations are natural, using only indigenous yeasts, and sulfur additions are daringly minimal.

Cuvée “Il Fait Soif” is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah from 15-30 year old vines growing out of clay and limestone soils. The Syrah ferments with carbonic maceration for fruity freshness while the Grenache sees partial whole cluster fermentation to add vibrancy, purity, and complexity. The wine then ages for six months in stainless steel cuves. The result is a wine that is quaffable (il fait soif means it’s drinking time) and genuine, with intense aromatics of violets, rain-soaked earth, cherry cordial, baked clay, and dried herbs.

This is a fantastic wine to stock up for the holiday season, it will perform as a cocktail wine just as well as it will pairing with roast leg of lamb, and everything in-between. To be sure, your guests will be toasting your good taste in wine.

More Wines from Maxime-François Laurent

“La Rubiconde” (Côtes-du-Rhône 2016)
Special 6-pack Price: $189 (~$31/bottle)
Our regular customers might remember the 2014 vintage of Maxime-François Laurent’s cuvée “Pourpre” that we brought in a couple years ago. It was a popular wine while it lasted. The 2016 version has had its name changed to “La Rubiconde” but the wine is still the essence of Grenache from 50 to 80-year-old vines fermented in cement tank and then aged in neutral oak barriques and demi-muids. It is a wine of ripe, dense fruit that avoids being overblown or jammy.

Maxime-François Laurent “Orpiment” (Visan, Côtes-du-Rhône Village, 2016)
Special 6-pack Price: $167 (~$28/bottle)
A blend of 70% Grenache (60-year-old vines) and 30% Syrah (35-year-old vines) fermented in steel tank and then aged in neutral oak barriques and demi-muids. “Orpiment” has much of the ripe fruit of “La Rubiconde” with the added dimension of Syrah to add darker fruit flavor and smoky aromatics.

- - -
Posted on 2017.12.07 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Southern Rhone  |  Read more...

The Champagne Society – December 2017 Selection: Raventós i Blanc

Manuel Raventós Negra (MRN) 2010
Price for The Champagne Society members: $93 (regular price $120)

The name Raventós has become synonymous with great sparkling wines. Raventós i Blanc is one of the few producers of Spanish sparkling wine that grows, tends and harvests their grapes from their own property, ferments and vinifies their wines, and then sells them under their label. To borrow a phrase from Champagne, one can truly consider them a Récoltant Manipulant (Grower Producer). Raventós i Blanc is Champagne know how and innovation imbued with Catalan spirit and terroir. Only cane sugar is used in the liqueur de tirage. A pneumatic press is used to gently extract the juice. The wines spend a disproportionate amount of time on the lees to add richness and complexity. Each of these techniques can be found in the very best of Champagne producers, but only a few in Spain.

The Raventós family, a leading, world-renowned winegrowing dynasty, has lived on their estate since 1497. Twenty one generations have worked the land comprised of 220 acres of vines, forest and water, with a specific microclimate influenced by a river, lake, two streams, and a hill known as the Turó del Serral. Their soils were formed over 16 million years ago. They are calcareous with marine fossils, and this provides the ideal conditions for producing wines with a potent mineral expression.

The personality and the style of their sparkling wines are determined by the soil, by the native varieties and by the biodynamic winemaking, which favors the biodiversity, energy and life of the estate as much as possible. It is the soils of marine origin that give their wines typicity, providing them with saline and mineral notes that make their sparkling wines different from those produced on other terroirs throughout the world.

The coupage “Manuel Raventós Negra (MRN) 2010” is a personal selection of the best wines from the vintage. It is their signature sparkling wine only bottled in the most exceptional vintages. The wines selected for this vintage were Xarel·lo (70%) from the Clos parcel, Macabeu (20%) from the Vinya dels Fòssils parcel, and Parellada (10%) from the La Creueta parcel. Six years of cellar aging give the wine a marvelous structure on the palate, as well as an enveloping silky texture with a long, bitter finish typical of wines from the cru Conca del Riu Anoia.

- - -
Posted on 2017.12.01 in Spain DO, The Champagne Society, Cava  |  Read more...

previous   -   next