Thibault Liger-Belair : Vieilles Vignes 2020

Tasting Notes and Advice for Thibault Liger-Belair "Vieilles Vignes" 2020

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a brilliant ruby hue.

Nose

The bouquet reveals aromas of raspberry coulis and blueberry, enhanced by hints of violet and delicate spices.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a medium body with ripe red fruit—especially cherry—interwoven with notes of orange peel. Fine tannins lend an elegant structure, while a surprising mineral freshness, inherited from the granite soils, runs through the tasting experience. The spicy finish pleasantly extends the experience.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Moulin-à-Vent pairs perfectly with fish cooked en papillote, poultry in cream and mushroom sauce, as well as a platter of assorted cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

Moulin-à-Vent "Vieilles Vignes" 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting may be considered to allow its aromas to fully open up.

A structured, complex Moulin-à-Vent from century-old Beaujolais vines

The estate

Thibault Liger-Belair took over the family estate in 2001, inheriting a vineyard with depleted soils that he restored through organic, then biodynamic, farming. A visionary, he expanded into Beaujolais as early as 2008 by creating Domaine des Pierres Roses in Moulin-à-Vent. Today, he manages around 7 hectares in Nuits-Saint-Georges and 12 hectares in Moulin-à-Vent. In 2017, he inaugurated a revolutionary winery in Nuits-Saint-Georges, designed according to forward-thinking environmental principles. Beyond his own wines, Thibault Liger-Belair is committed to passing on knowledge by creating Domaine des Jeunes Pousses, a support program for young winegrowers.

The vineyard

The Moulin-à-Vent "Vieilles Vignes" comes from a blend of nine plots totaling around seven hectares, planted between 1910 and 1955. These very old vines, some of them over a century old, are rooted in shallow soils made up of white and pink sands resulting from the breakdown of pink granite and quartz. This distinctive mineral composition gives the wine its signature freshness and mineral tension. The plots are located on the northern slope of the Moulin-à-Vent hill, benefiting from the influence of cold winds that preserve the grapes’ freshness.

The vintage

The year 2020 offered particularly favorable climatic conditions in Beaujolais. After a mild winter, spring enabled an early start to vine growth. The hot, dry summer promoted optimal concentration in the grapes, producing berries of exceptional ripeness and remarkable balance. The harvest took place on August 27, capturing the grapes at ideal phenolic ripeness. This sunny, generous vintage produced concentrated wines while preserving lovely freshness.

Winemaking and Aging

The Moulin-à-Vent "Vieilles Vignes" 2020 was harvested by hand. Vinification included 40% whole clusters, adding structure and aromatic complexity. Fermentation took place over three weeks in open vats, using gentle extraction techniques to preserve the finesse of the tannins. Aging continued for fifteen months in oak barrels, 20% of which were new, with the remainder made up of previously used barrels. This measured proportion of new oak allows subtle integration of oak notes without masking the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

Gamay (100%)