Domaine de la Romanee Conti   Montrachet

2001 Montrachet

By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti

1999 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

At the close of the last millennium, a vintage was born in Burgundy with a promise to embody the region's storied winemaking tradition. Among this cohort, the 1999 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is a breathtaking exemplar of Pinot Noir finesse. Savvy investors will note that while Nuits St Georges has always held an esteem amongst Burgundy aficionados, it was the 1999 vintage that captured hearts with its remarkable structure and longevity.

 

Ripe Reflections: A Singular Vintage

Burgundy's late '90s vintages heralded today's high-octane wine market, and few are more illustrative of this shift than the '99 Aux Lavieres. Made singular by its growing conditions, Nuits St Georges's terroir in 1999 experienced a prodigious balance of warmth and precipitation, allowing for an idyllic ripening period. This is crucial to understanding the layered complexity inherent in the wines from this year.

 

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair's Emblematic Elixir

Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, a name that evokes reverence in vintners' circles, has leveraged their vineyard mastery to channel the climatic uniqueness into their 1999 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres. The wine seduces the palate with harmonious notes of ripe cherries and wild herbs, interwoven with the minerality that Burgundy connoisseurs prize above all.

The winemaker's craftsmanship shines through the carefully orchestrated evolution of flavours - from oak-induced vanilla nuances to mature secondary characteristics of game and earthy forest floor. All these subtleties culminate in an ample but refined finish that insists upon attentive contemplation.

Fine wine investors considering the en primeur offerings would be remiss not to compare those prospects with the realized glory of historic vintages such as this 1999 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres. Its investment value is not merely in its stellar heritage or the enduring luminescence of its ruby liquid; rather, it encompasses the rigorous standards upheld at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair during an exceptional climatic sequence.

In summary, examining such a historic vintage as the 1999 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair reveals a tapestry of vinicultural mastery intertwined with an auspicious year. These bottles, now entering their supreme drinking window, are treasures for both connoisseurs seeking drinking pleasure and investors looking for mature wines with reputational command in the market.

Current market price

£89,460.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

6881.54

Scores and tasting notes

92-94

The Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s policy of late harvests for their Montrachet leads to forward, expressive wines with boisterously flavorful personalities. The 2001 was picked at 14% natural potential alcohol and reveals some hints of botrytis. Buttered toast, hazelnuts, and smoky spices are found in its aromatic profile. This plush, intense wine admirably combines muscular power with elegance. Light to medium-bodied, it is a fresh, delineated, spice-laden effort that is packed with pears and minerals. Drink it over the next 9-10 years. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s co-director, stated that “it was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estate’s vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.” Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would “another irregular year.” Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2003

Vintage performance