Thibualt Liger-Belair Moulin-a-Vent

Thibault Liger-Belair: Moulin-a-Vent

I first met Thibault Liger-Belair in 2009 when we were tasting his superb range of wines at his estate in Nuits Saint Georges. Thibault is the cousin of the more famous Comte Liger-Belair in Vosne Romanee owners of the tiny gem La Romanee. Wine has been a mainstay of the family since the beginning of the 18^th Century and it is only in 2001 that Thibault returned from Paris to create Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair.

With fabulous parcels in Richebourg, Corton Renardes and Rognets along with Nuits Saint Georges Les St. Georges and various others, Thibault has farmed all his vineyards under bio-dynamic principles since 2005. Less well known are the vineyards in Moulin-a-Vent, in my opinion the greatest terroir in Beaujolais and certainly the village the produces the richest and broadest wines that Thibault started purchasing in 2007. He now has just under 8ha of vines between 65-85 years old and produces four different cuvees.

This brings me back to my tasting in 2009 where having tasted through the range of Domaine wines, Thibault took me to a different building and we tasted from cask what I could only presume was some other Pinot Noir perhaps a Volnay or Savigny Les Beaune. I was surprised to say the least when Thibault informed me that it was a Gamay, a Beaujolais. The wine was beautifully succulent, rich, broad and mouth-filling but with a pretty, elegant frame. I was hooked.

Thibault has always had a love affair with Beaujolais and even studied there in the early 1990’s. He also reminded me that just before the First World War, the best of the wines of the Beaujolais were sold at the same price as a Vosne Romanee and Gevrey Chambertin.

Thibault treats his Moulin-a-Vent in exactly the same way he does any of his Pinot’s and the results speak for themselves. The wines are beautifully structured with vibrant floral notes, black cherry, raspberry and red berry fruits and though immediately impressive, they have the structure to drink harmoniously for 10 years. These are an absolute must and given the incredibly modest prices they are an unbelievable bargain.

2012 Moulin-a-Vent Les Rouchaux          €237 per case 12btls

Les Rouchaux is made from a parcel of 70 year old vines and shows a deep colour with black cherry, raspberry and floral notes. Deep and ripe on the palate with layers of red fruits and a seductive silky palate. Really classy and harmonious.

2012 Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes       €237per case 12btls

The Viellies Vignes comes from a selection of plots of between 65-85 years old vines and in the same way as Les Rouchaux, the Moulin-a-Vent is more Pinot than Gamay with rich, concentrated red berry fruits, hints of rose petal and spices. It has great concentration and freshness and delivers an amazingly serious wine for relatively little money.

Also, should you prefer we can offer you a mixed case of 6 bottles of each of the above for the same price of €237 per case 12btls.

All prices are ex TVA , delivery and duty.