Domaine Leflaive   Batard Montrachet

2018 Batard-Montrachet

By Domaine Leflaive

2016 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Burgundy, France

In the mosaic of Burgundian terroir, the 2016 vintage from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair inscribes its own distinguished chapter, particularly with the esteemed Nuits St Georges les Cras. This year stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Burgundy’s vignerons in the face of nature's trials.

 

A Testament to Terroir and Tenacity

Challenges framed 2016 with climatic mood swings ranging from frost to summer heat. The consequence of such adversity? Reduced yields, certainly, but also a concentration of character in the surviving fruit that translates magnificently into complexity in the glass. The les Cras vineyard, with its choicely positioned plots and expert stewardship by the venerable Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, delivers an example of sublime elegance against these odds.

 

The Subtle Artistry of les Cras in 2016

Tasting the 2016 Nuits St Georges les Cras reveals layers reminiscent of a rhapsody: each sip is a movement composed of dark cherries and ripe plums. Mid-palate, fine tannins weave through whispers of earthy undertones and delicate spice, courtesy of a judicious sojourn in oak—a suggestion rather than a declaration. Its finish demonstrates a lingering persistence, one that assures any enthusiast about its investable future.

Investing in fine wines like the 2016 Nuits St Georges les Cras can be a complex affair, where knowledge of vintage variation plays an integral role. This particular year yieldeda cuvée that dramatically exemplifies the tenacity of Pinot Noir to not just survive but thrive under duress.

It stands as a beacon for collectors and investors alike – an emblematic encapsulation of an unpredictable season that, through skillful vinification and an unyielding vineyard personality, triumphed to produce a wine of exceptional poise and potential longevity.

 

Culmination and Consideration for Connoisseurs

The 2016 Nuits St Georges les Cras from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is far more than just a fine wine; it is a heroic narrative captured within the chalice's confines. With this release, delight emerges from distress—the mark of an outstanding vintage whose story will be recounted fondly for years to come. An acquisition for the cellar should be as much about passion as it is about prudence; here lies a vintage that satiates both desires magnificently.

Market price (GBP)

£9,450.00

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

630

Scores and tasting notes

95

Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a textural, elegantly muscular wine evocative of pear, toasted almonds, white flowers, peach and vanilla pod. Layered and powerful, it concludes with a long, saline finish. It's more dramatic and broader-shouldered than the suave, seamless Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet this year.

William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 14 January 2021

Vintage performance