1995 Batard-Montrachet
By Domaine Leflaive
2018 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Burgundy, France
The prodigious 2018 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair heralds from a year that wine connoisseurs dote upon with fondness and awe. This vintage stands as a testament to the deftness of winemaking and the extraordinary character bestowed by the climatic largesse of the season. My extensive travels and tastings have scarcely revealed a Burgundian vintage that fuses accessibility with depth quite as harmoniously as the 2018.
Nuanced Elegance: A True Expression of Terroir
The 2018 vintage in Burgundy was marked by an amiable gestation of the grapes, allowing them to reach optimum phenotype expression with rich fruit concentration—an outcome that curators of fine wines and astute investors recognise for its cellar-worthy potential. In particular, the Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair encapsulates this beautifully, its bouquet flourishing with layered aromas of ripe cherries, earthy undertones, and a flirtation of space.
Exemplifying Climatic Mastery
In 2018, Burgundy witnessed a warmer growing season, whereby meticulous canopy management at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair's vineyards prevented overexposure and preserved the fruits' intrinsic freshness. This precise care yielded an elegant structure in their Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres, showcasing fine-grained tannins and a luscious palate adorned with subtle, sensual hints of violets and spice.
The convergence of favourable weather conditions and the estate's unwavering dedication to traditional viticultural practices have borne a wine of exceptional poise—both opulent yet finely etched. It is, without equivocation, one of the stars in 2018’s vinous tapestry that deserves a coveted place in any discerning investor’s portfolio.
Precisely aged in French oak barrels, this wine's complexity is as compelling as its longevity is assured; a jewel in the crown for investors seeking out Bottles with provenance and potential appreciation.
Investment Merits: A Definitive Vintage
In summary, the 2018 Nuits St Georges Aux Lavieres from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair encapsulates all that one seeks in investment-grade Burgundy— pedigreed provenance, climatic fortune, unwavering finesse, and potential for graceful ageing. Investable indeed; this Nuits St Georges will only accrue value as it unfurls its narrative across time.
Market price (USD)
$21,160.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
1444.17
Scores and tasting notes
Intense but unyielding on the nose, the Batard Montrachet isn't quite as exciting as the Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles, but it has enormous power and concentration. Displaying fat, candied fruit (ever so slightly flabby) with flavors of tangy minerals, spices and flowers, this thick-textured, full-bodied wine should be drunk early as I'm not convinced it possesses the backbone for serious aging. Drink it between 2002-2007. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. Ratings with a range of scores in parentheses indicate the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. The wines at the domaine are made by Meursault's Pierre Morey. I was impressed with the relationship he has with Madame Leflaive. The two openly share their thoughts, completely respecting each other's opinions. In most cellars there is an obviously dominant player, but at Domaine Leflaive it is a team effort. The wines spend on average 11 months in oak before being placed in stainless steel tanks for another 7 to 9 months (the Montrachet is never removed from oak). The domaine averaged 25 hectoliters/hectare in 1995 - less than 2 tons of fruit per acre. Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel (212) 355-0700.
Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 24 April 1997