2016 Comte Liger-Belair Echezeaux

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is a 23-acre estate in Vosne-Romanee. It was created in 2000 by Louis-Michel Liger-Belair from vineyards that have been in the Liger-Belair family, in one way or another, since the early 19th century. The original Louis Liger-Belair was a general in Napoleon’s army who purchased the chateau in 1815 and in the early 20th century wines were made under the name of Comte Liger-Belair. However in the middle of the 20th century parts of the estate were lost or sold for various reasons. Today Louis-Michel has re-established the Comte Liger-Belair label and he has vineyards in 12 appellations. There are Grand Cru parcels in La Romanee and Echezeaux, and Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Clive Coates has written that “from the start, Louis-Michel has shown himself to be a sensible and astute winemaker: a man of real talent. These are elegant, finely tuned and very pure wines.”

Echezeaux is a 93-acre Grand Cru vineyard on the southern edge of the Cote de Nuits. It up the slope from Clos de Vougeot and Grands Echezeaux and is one of the largest grand crus in Burgundy. The vineyard varies in elevation from 250 to 300 meters, and the terroir includes significant clay as well as thin, rocky soil. The largest proprietors are Domaine de la Romanee Conti, with 11.68 acres; Mongeard-Mugneret with 6.25 acres, and Emmanuel-Rouget, with 3.58 acres. Echezeaux produces red wine.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.