2010 Charmes Chambertin

The 2010 Charmes-Chambertin is striking for its weightless elegance and finessed, silky tannins. The use of 20% whole clusters gives the Charmes gorgeous aromatic lift and expressiveness. Persistent saline notes frame the eternal, mid-weight finish. Liger-Belair reports he had a very high percentage of shot berries in this parcel. The Charmes is made from purchased fruit from a parcel that sits just below the Laticieres/Chambertin border. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030. I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted with Thibault Liger-Belair. Thibault’s core holdings are the remaining vestiges of his family’s portion of the original Liger-Belair estate that was sold in the early 1930s. In recent years, Liger-Belair has added a few negociant wines to augment his range. Thibault Liger-Belair is the largest owner of the Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges and the leading proponent of the movement to have the vineyard classified as a Grand Cru. Liger-Belair’s decision to taste his Les St. Georges in between the Clos de Vougeot and Richebourg makes an eloquent case. In fact, words are pretty much superfluous at that point. I will report on Liger-Belair’s 2009s in the April issue. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802

Light crimson. Very heady, layered nose. Sweet start and lots of interest here. The sort of wine that will probably go through many different stages in its life. Fresh and vital. One of the most interesting 2010s I have tasted in London. And I don’t think you will be forced to wait all that long for it either! (JR)

The 2010 Charmes-Chambertin is striking for its weightless elegance and finessed, silky tannins. The use of 20% whole clusters gives the Charmes gorgeous aromatic lift and expressiveness. Persistent saline notes frame the eternal, mid-weight finish. Liger-Belair reports he had a very high percentage of shot berries in this parcel. The Charmes is made from purchased fruit from a parcel that sits just below the Laticieres/Chambertin border. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030. ||I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted with Thibault Liger-Belair. Thibault’s core holdings are the remaining vestiges of his family’s portion of the original Liger-Belair estate that was sold in the early 1930s. In recent years, Liger-Belair has added a few negociant wines to augment his range. Thibault Liger-Belair is the largest owner of the Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges and the leading proponent of the movement to have the vineyard classified as a Grand Cru. Liger-Belair’s decision to taste his Les St. Georges in between the Clos de Vougeot and Richebourg makes an eloquent case. In fact, words are pretty much superfluous at that point. I will report on Liger-Belair’s 2009s in the April issue. Wine Advocate.February, 2012