2011 Batard-Montrachet
By Domaine Leflaive
The 2009 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair
A decade after its vintage, the 2009 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is as riveting and enigmatic as one would hope for from such an illustrious estate. The year 2009 in Burgundy carved out an identity shaped by the region's beneficial climatic conditions resulting in ornate and luxuriant wines.
In Vino Veritas: A Vintage to Remember
Nestled within the heart of the Côte de Nuits lies the virtually celestial enclave known as 'Les Cras'. Here, Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, with his venerable touch and profound grasp of terroir, conjured a wine plainly illustrative of both time and place. The particularities of the 2009 growing season bestowed an exceptional ripeness upon the fruit without sacrificing the signature minerality or tension that captivates collectors and connoisseurs alike.
A Harmonious Melding of Elegance and Potency
The 2009 vintage is characterised by its sumptuous aromatic depth, rendering waves of black cherry, violets and a whisper of licorice in its wake. On the palate, it reveals itself with a regal complexity; tannins are present but impeccably refined, escorting a texture that is almost silk-like, married beautifully to an acidity that ensures longevity; an essential factor for prudent investors.
With a proportion of new oak that never overshadows but instead elevates the stately fruit, this wine exudes balance. Its tail is long, nuanced and mirrors the elegance and finesse one anticipates from such an esteemed parcel within Nuits St Georges.
Investment-wise, discerning purchasers will note that the magisterial 2009 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair stands as a testament to a defining year in Burgundian winemaking. With age, it is evolving into a tapestry of complexity and suavity that promises to hold or enhance its value in any well-curated portfolio.
As it continues to unfurl gracefully with time, this vintage confirms its position as one of the paramount pivots around which fine wine investment must orbit - it is not merely about financial acumen but viticultural artistry as well.
Market price (HKD)
HK$92,340.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
644
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Bâtard-Montrachet 2011 from Anne-Claude Leflaive is slightly deeper in color than its peers. The nose is a little austere at first, but it unfolds nicely with impressive mineral (slate and flint) scents, well defined and poised. The palate is well balanced with a keen thread of acidity. There is a bright citric heart to this Bâtard-Montrachet with fleeting touches of nectarine and citrus lemon joining the edgy mineral finish. This is a classy Grand Cru – regal but not imposing.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 November 2014