Thibault Liger-Belair : Bourgogne "Les Charmes" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Bourgogne "Les Charmes" 2021 from Thibault Liger-Belair

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a straw-yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose

The bouquet is bright and expressive, revealing fragrances of fresh citrus evoking yellow lemon and pink grapefruit. Aromas of exotic fruits emerge, accompanied by delicate floral notes reminiscent of white rose and honeysuckle. A subtly spicy touch runs through the whole, adding an extra dimension to this distinctive aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack is lively and fluid, immediately invigorating. A crystalline acidity structures the palate, balanced by a supple mid-palate and enough extract to give body without heaviness. The wine expresses remarkable harmony between the aromatic richness of exotic fruits, zesty, vibrant citrus and the vertiginous minerality of the limestone terroir. The velvety texture contrasts pleasantly with the present liveliness. The finish lingers with length, gradually unfurling peppery and saline notes wrapped in an elegant, chalky freshness.

Food and wine pairings

This white Bourgogne pairs perfectly with langoustines in a lemon beurre blanc, served with an avocado and passion fruit condiment. It also matches remarkably well with sushi, aged cheeses such as Comté, light poultry, or even red mullet. The wine’s mineral salinity creates a natural affinity with seafood and delicate fish.

Serving and cellaring

The Bourgogne "Les Charmes" 2021 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 12°C. The optimal drinking window is approximately between 2025 and 2032, with the wine reaching its peak around 2026-2028. However, it already offers a magnificent expression now thanks to its hallmark freshness and tension.

A white Bourgogne from the Mâconnais combining mineral freshness and aromatic complexity

The estate

Founded in 2001 by Thibault Liger-Belair, Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair continues a family winegrowing history dating back to 1720. Located in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the Côte de Nuits, the estate spans around 7.25 hectares, including prestigious parcels such as Richebourg Grand Cru and Clos de Vougeot. Certified organic since 2005 and practicing biodynamics since 2004, Thibault Liger-Belair is one of the brightest figures of his generation in Bourgogne. The estate has also expanded into Beaujolais with Domaine des Pierres Roses and, in 2019, created Domaine des Jeunes Pousses, an innovative initiative to pass on winegrowing know-how to younger generations.

The vineyard

The Bourgogne "Les Charmes" 2021 comes from a blend of two terroirs located in Saône-et-Loire: 60% from vines in Lugny in the Mâconnais and 40% from Montagny in the Côte Chalonnaise. The Lugny vines, more than forty years old, are planted on the lieu-dit "Les Charmes", on the eastern side of the appellation, benefiting from full southern exposure on clay-limestone soils of remarkable whiteness. This limestone composition gives the wine its characteristic freshness and mineral structure. The parcels include Chardonnay musqué vines, a less common clonal variant that contributes particularly expressive aromas.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Bourgogne was marked by a harsh winter, with a frost episode impacting the entire French vineyard. A milder spring encouraged flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability was observed between mid-July and mid-August. Despite these contrasting conditions, the grapes reached optimal ripeness, making it possible to craft balanced wines combining freshness and concentration.

Winemaking and aging

The Bourgogne "Les Charmes" 2021 harvest is carried out carefully by hand. Extended pressing lasting a minimum of three hours makes it possible to fully extract the grape’s potential. Fermentation of the must takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with no oak addition whatsoever. Aging continues in stainless-steel tank for fourteen months, fully preserving the purity of the fruit and the expression of Lugny’s limestone terroir. This minimalist approach reflects the winegrower’s absolute confidence in the terroir’s natural quality.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay, including Chardonnay musqué vines from plantings more than forty years old.