Domaine Leflaive   Batard Montrachet

2014 Batard-Montrachet

By Domaine Leflaive

The 2012 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

The rather splendid 2012 vintage of the emblematic Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair unfolds as a masterclass in the intricacies of fine Burgundy. The year 2012 was markedly challenging in the region, with weather conditions swinging from arduous to amenable, ultimately leading vintners through a climatic gauntlet to produce wines of tremendous character and potential.

 

A Vintage Defined by Resilience and Elegance

As a year that truly tested the mettle of Burgundy's winemakers, 2012 saw reduced yields but heightened concentration in the berries that braved the season. This particular harvest from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair encapsulates the triumph over adversities—the Nuits St Georges les Cras emerges with a darker fruit profile than typical vintages, bearing an opulent tapestry of black cherry and ripe plum, laced with an earthy undercurrent that is so characteristic of prime Nuits St Georges terroir.

With a firm yet refined tannic structure, this 2012 offering presents a formidable candidate for investment; its balance and depth suggesting a luminous aging trajectory. A keen investor would find merit in the wine’s poised evolution, as it promises to unfurl further layers of complexity over time.

 

Nuance in Every Sip: The Hallmark of Fine Burgundy

Carefully nurtured by the loam and limestone-rich soils that grace Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair's prestigious parcels, the 2012 Nuits St Georges les Cras articulates nuances of minerality and poise—a soft whisper of oak courtesy of measured barrel aging bestows an additional dimension without overwhelming the wine's natural voice.

There is an implicit understanding amongst connoisseurs that certain vintages capture the essence of their environment with greater clarity. This is such a wine—enveloping the palate with grace, revealing hints of violet and subtle spice, and commanding attention with its vigorous finish.

In conclusion, to savour the 2012 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is to journey through a landscape of sensory finesse; where each sip beckons further contemplation. As this wine continues its poised ascent into full maturity, discerning investors and collectors should indeed entertain thoughts of ensconcing several bottles within their curated collections.

Market price (GBP)

£12,600.00

12x75cl

Highest score

92

POP score

1050

Scores and tasting notes

92

The 2014 Batard Montrachet Grand Cru was a wine that did not quite set my world of fire when I tasted it from vat last year when I preferred the Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet. Reacquainting myself with the wine in bottle, I was not convinced to alter that opinion. Leaving it to open for 5-10 minutes in the glass, the grand cru does open up with fresh pear and white peach scents, overtaken by granitic aromas over several minutes. The palate is clean and fresh on the entry with an attractive spicy, white pepper note in the background that comes forward towards the finish that offers commendable weight. What it lacks is just a bit of tension and energy, while I found just as much persistence but no more than the 2014 Les Pucelles. Perhaps it will improve down the line as Bâtard-Montrachet always does, but compared not only to its peers but to the 2015 as well, this just falls a little short. Tasted December 2016.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 June 2017

Vintage performance