Domaine du Comte Liger Belair   Nuits St Georges les Cras

2017 Nuits St Georges les Cras

By Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

2017 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier, Burgundy, France

In the rarefied echelons of French winemaking, the 2017 vintages of Burgundy have a particularly distinguished character, with the 2017 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier exemplifying this distinction. My experience with Domaine Fourrier spans decades, allowing me intimate familiarity with their craft and continuity. Yet, it is the subtleties within each vintage that imbue these wines with their singular narratives.

 

Cherished Terroir and Astute Winemaking: A Symphonic Blend

Domaine Fourrier, known for its meticulous viticulture and reverence for terroir, has harmoniously combined these elements in the 2017 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru. The growing season of 2017 was relatively kind across Burgundy, offering a balance between warm days and cooler nights. This climatic harmony is manifest within the vintage, endowing it with an equilibrium that serves as the foundation for the wine's structure and longevity - something that fine wine investors actively seek.

 

A Vintage Speaks: Unearthing Notes and Nuance

This particular Grand Cru carries forth a bouquet of fragrant red fruits, melded with discreet hints of earthiness and subtler notes of spice—a reflection of the microclimate unraveling its complexities. On tasting, one encounters a lively acidity matched by an impeccably integrated tannic backbone. The palate is treated to succulent cherry and ripe raspberry, overlaid elegantly with whispers of oak and a lingering finish that evokes the very soul of its terroir.

With its potential for ageing gracefully under proper conditions, the 2017 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier emerges as a prudent addition to any collector’s cache or investor’s portfolio. It stands as a testimony to the durability and finesse that underpin the reputation of Burgundian Grand Crus in achieving remarkable sophistication over time.

In summation, the grace and vibrancy of this wine epitomise the essence of its origins. It is undeniably a pinnacle offering from Domaine Fourrier in this vintage year, poised immaculately between youthful vivacity and potential for graceful maturation—an opulent tapestry woven with excellence for both investor interest and connoisseur appreciation.

Market price (GBP)

£11,550.00

12x75cl

Highest score

91

POP score

1050

Scores and tasting notes

90-92

Aromas of cassis, wild berries and rich soil mingle with savory nuances of grilled game bird, dark chocolate spices and smoky new oak in a complex bouquet, introducing the 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras, a medium to full-bodied wine with good depth and concentration at the core, structured around a firm chassis of chewy tannin that will likely resolve considerably by the time is bottled. The raw materials are present and the balance is excellent, but the wine's structure was hard to read when I tasted it.

William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 4 January 2019

Vintage performance