Thibault Liger-Belair : Gevrey-Chambertin Village "La Croix des Champs" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Gevrey-Chambertin Village "La Croix des Champs" 2022 Thibault Liger-Belair

Tasting

Color
This French wine reveals a magnificent ruby red hue, with lovely brilliance and medium depth, reflecting a gentle extraction.

Nose
Remarkably precise, the aromatic bouquet opens with intense notes of fruits such as raspberry, wild strawberry, and plum. These are complemented by subtle touches of licorice and orange peel, along with mineral and undergrowth nuances.

Palate
Medium-bodied, the palate captivates with its silky texture and remarkably supple tannins. Perfect balance is achieved through a fine mineral tension that lends freshness, leading to a persistent and elegant finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée will pair wonderfully with roast lamb, duck preparations served with a fruity sauce, or moderately intense beef dishes. As for cheese, it will beautifully complement an Époisses or other creamy cow's milk cheeses.

Service and Storage

To fully appreciate all the nuances of the Gevrey-Chambertin Village "La Croix des Champs" 2022, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 13 and 16°C.

Other Characteristics

This wine has been praised by critics, notably receiving a score of 93 points from Decanter magazine, highlighting its balance and mineral expression.

The Elegance and Precision of a Great Gevrey-Chambertin Wine

The Estate

Founded in 2001 by Thibault Liger-Belair, the current owner, the eponymous estate has become an essential reference in Burgundy. Located in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the estate oversees a vineyard of about eight hectares in the Côte de Nuits, complemented by plots in Beaujolais. A staunch advocate of viticulture attuned to the vine, Thibault Liger-Belair favors limited yields and an environmentally friendly approach, certified organic since 2005. The estate stands out for its philosophy of infusion rather than extraction, giving rise to wines of great finesse.

The Vineyard

The "La Croix des Champs" plot is a tiny jewel of 0.20 hectares located in the southeastern part of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation. Facing east and subject to an oceanic climate with semi-continental influences, the vines thrive on clay soil with a limited presence of limestone. The vineyard combines very old vines planted in 1964 with young vines replanted in 2015, offering an ideal balance between concentration and aromatic liveliness.

The Vintage

The year 2022 is considered a classic and generous vintage. After a spring marked by a few frost episodes, the summer season was particularly hot. However, the vines were spared from water stress thanks to saving rainfall at the end of June. The harvest took place under optimal conditions, yielding grapes in impeccable health, resulting in a wine combining harmony, freshness, and purity of fruit.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes are hand-harvested into small perforated crates before a rigorous sorting process. For the Gevrey-Chambertin Village "La Croix des Champs" 2022, fermentation incorporates 50% whole clusters. After a few days of cold maceration, fermentation begins naturally through indigenous yeasts, with extremely gentle extraction. Aging takes place over a period of fourteen to eighteen months in oak barrels made from wood dried for three years, with a maximum of 50% new barrels. Bottling is carried out without racking, fining, or filtration.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir