Domaine du Comte Liger Belair   Echezeaux Grand Cru

2011 Echezeaux Grand Cru

By Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

2011 Echezeaux Grand Cru from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Burgundy, France

The 2011 vintage in Burgundy remains one of the more intriguing enigmas of the past decade. With its fair share of climatic ebbs and flows, it moulded wines that encapsulated complexities beyond the reach of many preceding years. Chief amongst these enigmatic vintages is the 2011 Echezeaux Grand Cru from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. My relationship with this nectar threads through a tapestry of organic deliberation and intuitive precision, which Liger-Belair has cultivated in its vines over generations.

 

Unique Terroir, Exceptional Expression

The Echezeaux Grand Cru vineyards have long been held in high regard for their remarkable ability to produce wines with profound depth and intensity. Even in challenging years, the best parcels managed by hands like those at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair offer a symphony of red and dark fruits accompanied by an aristocratic spice that delivers an entrancing performance on the palate.

 

Weathering 2011: The Resilience of a Remarkable Vintage

The 2011 vintage was shaped by a somewhat capricious climate – an early spring onset followed by erratic summer conditions presented vignerons with trials aplenty. Yet the deft management and adroit understanding of the unique microclimate within Echezeaux's confines allowed Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair to coax a wine that brims with vitality.

In bearing witness to the evolution of this particular vintage over time, one finds that the initial hints of cherry blossom and potpourri have gracefully matured into a more intricate array of sous-bois and black tea leaves that enchants the connoisseur.

 

An Investable Work of Oenological Art

The intelligent investor will note that vintages such as 2011 offer a compelling proposition. While it possesses the hallmarks of classic Burgundian finesse, there is also a robustness that suggests an optimum ageing potential. This duality means the 2011 Echezeaux Grand Cru from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair stands as one of the most intriguing investment opportunities amidst its peers.

In summation, the 2011 Echezeaux Grand Cru exhibits those quintessential elements investors seek in collectable Burgundies—distinctiveness, longevity, and sophisticated allure—all showcased within the tapestry of this complex vintage. One finds not simply a wine, but rather an enduring narrative etched into every sip; it's a testament to the fortitude and flair woven into the very roots of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair’s legacy.

Current market price

£24,510.00

12x75cl

Highest score

91

POP score

2228.18

Scores and tasting notes

91

Tasted at the Comte Liger-Belair vertical at the Château de Vosne. The 2011 Echézeaux Grand Cru has ripe red berries mixed with freshly tilled soil and woodland aromas that are attractive but do not quite have the precision of the 2008 or 2011. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of rawness and hardness on the entry that just upsets the balance compared to other vintages. Hints of cedar and saline notes form the finish that feels just a tad curmudgeonly at present, so afford this several years in bottle. Tasted June 2015.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 July 2015

Vintage performance