Thibault Liger-Belair : Chambolle-Musigny Village "Vieilles Vignes" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chambolle-Musigny Village "Vieilles Vignes" 2021 from Thibault Liger-Belair

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep ruby-red color with violet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a delicate, refined aromatic expression, characteristic of the appellation. Notes of ripe red fruits dominate, led by cherry, raspberry, and sour cherry. Floral nuances of violet and dried rose add elegance and complexity. In the background, mineral touches of graphite, white pepper, and subtle hints of forest floor and smoke enhance the bouquet without obscuring the purity of the fruit.

Palate

The attack is gentle and supple. The mid-palate reveals a fine, velvety tannic structure—never aggressive—supporting a bright, precise fruit expression. The tension and freshness brought by the acidity enliven the whole and extend the finish. The finish lingers at length on saline and mineral notes, leaving an impression of remarkable purity and harmony, where fruit, tannins, acidity, and minerality are expressed in perfect balance.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs ideally with grilled red meats, Époisses cheese, or duck breast with red fruits. Its moderate structure, refined tannins, and vibrancy also allow it to match roasted poultry, veal, mushroom-based dishes, or even certain Asian cuisines with delicate umami flavors.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Chambolle-Musigny Village "Vieilles Vignes" 2021 at a temperature of 14 to 16°C. One hour of decanting is recommended to separate any natural sediment and allow the aromas to fully express themselves. While approachable now, this wine will benefit from being cellared until around 2026 and can evolve harmoniously until around 2036 under good storage conditions.

An elegant, refined Chambolle-Musigny by Thibault Liger-Belair

The estate

The Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair was founded in 2001 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, in Burgundy, when Thibault Liger-Belair took over the direct farming of family parcels previously cultivated under sharecropping arrangements. Representing the first generation of his family branch to produce wine independently, Thibault Liger-Belair now runs an estate of around 8 hectares spread across eight prestigious appellations in the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. Recognized as one of the most talented winemakers of his generation, he has practiced certified organic viticulture since 2005 and biodynamics since 2004. His philosophy is based on minimal intervention in the cellar and an authentic expression of terroirs, earning him swift recognition within Burgundy’s hierarchy.

The vineyard

This Chambolle-Musigny Village "Vieilles Vignes" comes from a blend of five distinct parcels located within the Chambolle-Musigny appellation: Mal Carrées, Maladières, Derrière le Four, Fremières, and Gamaires. These vines, planted between 1952 and 1963, cover around 3 hectares and lie on deep clay-limestone soils typical of the appellation. The significant presence of limestone gives the wine its distinctive minerality and acidic backbone, while the fine clay brings the silky texture and fragrant aromatic profile that set Chambolle-Musigny wines apart.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy is marked by notable freshness and aromatic brightness. After a winter shaped by a severe frost event, a milder spring allowed flowering at the end of May. Particularly rainy months of June and July were followed by weather instability between mid-July and mid-August. These conditions favored the expression of finesse and aromatic purity over concentration and power.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Chambolle-Musigny Village "Vieilles Vignes" 2021 are hand-harvested with rigorous sorting. Vinification includes 40% whole clusters left unstemmed, with the remainder destemmed. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts over three weeks, following gentle extraction protocols that avoid any aggressive pumping-over. Aging occurs over 18 months in French oak barrels, with 30% new barrels and 70% barrels of one wine or more. The wine rests on fine lees without fining or filtration, preserving its integrity and natural complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir