Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy
THE ESTATE
The négociant business was created in 1720 by the family of Liger- Belair. Throughout its history, Thibault was the first to hold the aspiration to become a vigneron as he was more fascinated with the vineyards and cellars. He spent 6 years studying oenology and viticulture and followed with a career in Paris working for a communications company. The entrepreneurial spirit led him to a dot com start up in the late 1990s.
In 2000, the opportunity to reclaim some prized family vineyards such as Les Saint Georges appeared when Domaine Comte Liger-Belair was established. At the age of 26 in 2001, Thibault decided to return to Burgundy and establish Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The property increased its holdings from 2002 with important vineyards in Grand Cru such as Richebourg and Clos Vougeot and Premier Crus sites like Les Petits Monts in Vosne Romanée.
His fascination with vineyards was also accentuated in 1995 and 1996 while studying in Beaujolais. Thiabult was always annoyed by the region’s mis-perceived inferiority so in 2007, he began the Beaujolais project focusing on the cru Moulin-à-Vent. The vineyards are approach with serious Burgundian framework, featuring individual old parcels such as La Roche.
Outside of his identity as a vigneron, Thibault loves vintage old cars as well as sailing boat. He collects cars from the 1960s and 1970s especially the full aluminum Peugeot 403 and Panhard !
VINEYARD WORK
After setting up his domaine in Nuits-Saint-Georges in 2001 he went organic right from the start and then fully biodynamic in 2005. Thibault was one of the first wave vignerons to bring back horses into vineyards for plowing.
The reclaimed vineyards were Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot and Les Saint Georges in which consisted vines between 30 - 75 years old covering a total of 8 hectares.
Thibault’s Beaujolais project is located in the cru of Moulin-à-Vent with 5 hectares of vines (some 60 year old vineyards.) 2009 was his first vintage there.
Thibault always harvest twice. The first time to select the best grapes, the ones to keep as whole clusters. The second time to pick everything else. The amount of whole cluster varies between 10-50%.
WINEMAKING
Stem-inclusion is always dependent on the vintage and parcel. The decision is made at harvest by Thibault.
All fermentation is completed with indigenous yeasts.
Three coopers are used at the domaine: Tonnelerie François Frères, Tonnellerie Mercurey and Tonnellerie Dominique Laurent.
Thibault extends the winemaking process to wood selection for his barrels 3 years before the vintage with specific intent to utilise different grain levels and forest sources. 50% new wood is the general ratio for the domain. Élevage lasts for 14 - 18 months without racking and the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.