2012 Thibault Liger-Belair Clos Vougeot

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair is 20-acre estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges. It was created in 2003 by Thibault Liger-Belair, whose family has been in the wine business in Burgundy for several hundred years. Preceding generations ran domaines and negociant businesses. Today Thibault runs Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair and has a self-named negociant company. The domaine has parcels in eight appellations. There are Grand Crus in Clos de Vougeot and Richebourg, and Premier Crus in Vosne Romanee and Nuits-Saints-Georges. Thibault is the cousin of Louis-Michel of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. Clive Coates notes that Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair “is a future star.”

Clos de Vougeot is a walled vineyard that dominates the tiny commune of Vougeot in Burgundy’s Nuits-St.-Georges. The 124-acre Grand Cru vineyard includes a historic chateau that in 1945 was purchased by the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, an organization devoted to promoting the traditions of Burgundy and its wines. The impressive chateau is the organization’s headquarters. Clos de Vougeot was established as a vineyard by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, then sold off to private owners after the French Revolution. The vineyard is unusual for a Grand Cru in that it includes land that runs down to the main road. The soil is light limestone with sand. Principal landowners are Chateau de la Tour, with 13 acres; Meo-Camuzet, 7.5 acres; Rebourseau, 5.5 acres; Louis Jadot, 5.3 acres; and Leroy, 5 acres.

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.