Thibault Liger-Belair : Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits "Le Clos du Prieuré" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits "Le Clos du Prieuré" 2022 by Thibault Liger-Belair

Tasting

Color
This red wine reveals a clear, luminous ruby color, with a medium intensity typical of high-altitude terroirs.

Nose
The bouquet is rich and fleshy, offering aromas of well-ripened stone fruits such as cooked plum and cherry juice. Delicate floral notes intertwine with more complex nuances from its time in barrel, giving the whole an airy profile.

Palate
The palate offers lovely body with a silky texture. The tannins, both fine and elegant, support pure fruit flavors. Pronounced acidity brings liveliness and fine balance to the tasting.

Food and Wine Pairing
This wine pairs wonderfully with grilled red meats, roasted poultry, or feathered game. It will particularly shine alongside duck breast with a red fruit reduction, as well as aged cheeses.

Service and Storage
The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits "Le Clos du Prieuré" 2022 offers immediate pleasure in its youth, while also possessing a fine structure that allows it to evolve favorably in the cellar. It can be enjoyed now or kept for drinking until around 2032.

Other Characteristics
This wine has a moderate alcohol content of approximately 14.5%.

The Authentic Expression of a Terroir within the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Appellation

The Estate
While the family's winemaking history dates back to 1720, the modern estate was officially founded in 2001 by Thibault Liger-Belair, the current owner. Located in the heart of the Burgundy region, in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the estate oversees around 7 to 8 hectares of its own vineyards, complemented by parcels in Beaujolais. A staunch advocate of vine-attentive viticulture, Thibault Liger-Belair farms his land according to organic principles, taking an empirical approach aimed at revealing the purity of each parcel.

The Vineyard
The "Le Clos du Prieuré" parcel spans 1.1 hectares in the commune of Arcenant. Planted in 1986, these vines grow at an altitude of around 450 meters on a steep, south-facing slope with a 40% gradient. This distinctive terroir in Burgundy rests on soils composed of white marl and limestone, providing optimal natural drainage and encouraging a beautiful minerality. The grapes are harvested by hand to select only the finest, fully ripe berries.

The Vintage
The year 2022 was marked by moderate heat and generally very favorable weather conditions for grape ripening. The absence of extreme temperatures or periods of severe drought allowed for balanced vegetative growth, resulting in a harvest of excellent ripeness.

Winemaking and Aging
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes destined for the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits "Le Clos du Prieuré" 2022 are fully destemmed. Fermentation lasts three weeks with very gentle extraction to preserve the finesse of the aromas. The wine is then aged for fourteen to eighteen months on the lees in oak barrels, 30% of which are new, in order to preserve the true identity of the fruit.

Grape Variety
100% Pinot Noir