2016 Domaine du Comte Liger Belair, La Romanee Grand Cru

The 2016 La Romanée Grand Cru has a lilting bouquet of crushed strawberry and red cherry on the nose, perhaps missing the ambitions and the complexity of the very best vintages that I have tasted over the years. That said, it is very pretty and more open. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine bead of acidity. It gains complexity with aeration and reveals its hidden mineralité , becoming spicy and slightly peppery towards the finish. Excellent, although I would not place it top of the class. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

Bright, dark red-ruby. Knockout aromas and flavors of black raspberry, violet, cocoa powder, oak spices and subtle earth tones. At once oakier and more backward than the Echézeaux; quite large-scaled, plush and full but showing little early sweetness. This powerful wine finishes classically dry, with big, broad, almost Cabernet-like tannins and pungent notes of crushed rock and saline minerality. Should go on for at least two decades in bottle.

Monopole. 100% new oak. Barrel sample. Bright purplish crimson. Pungent and majestic. Very fine and polished and really very superior. Straight back. Beautiful texture. Nothing forced. Lots of mineral freshness and chew. Magnificent. (JR)