Vosne Romanée Colombière Domaine Comte De Liger Belair, 2016

From one of Burgundy’s most revered domaines, the 2016 Vosne-Romanée Colombière from Domaine Comte de Liger-Belair is a refined, terroir-driven expression of Pinot Noir from the heart of Vosne. Sourced from the La Colombière lieu-dit, just below the village, this wine offers the seductive perfume and silken texture that has made Vosne-Romanée legendary, wrapped in the lifted freshness of the 2016 vintage. It’s a village wine with a decidedly aristocratic touch, crafted with the same care and precision as the estate’s top crus.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Vosne-Romanée Colombière shows a vibrant, translucent ruby hue, with a brightness that hints at both energy and finesse. The nose is immediately expressive, offering layers of red cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries, intertwined with rose petals, violets, subtle spice, and a gentle touch of fine oak. Hints of forest floor, crushed herbs and a faint mineral edge add complexity as it opens. On the palate, this is pure, silky Pinot Noir: medium-bodied, with a delicate, satin-like texture and finely etched tannins. Juicy red fruit—morello cherry, cranberry and red currant—is framed by notes of Asian spice, a touch of sappy stem character (from whole cluster), and a persistent, stony minerality. The finish is long, precise and mouthwatering, carried by fresh acidity and subtle savory nuances. While already approachable with some aeration, this 2016 has the structure and balance to evolve beautifully over the next 8–15 years, gaining further depth and aromatic complexity.

Production
La Colombière lies at the foot of the village of Vosne-Romanée, on well-drained, limestone-rich soils with a mix of fine clay and pebbles that naturally limit vigor and enhance aromatic purity. Domaine Comte de Liger-Belair farms these vines organically and along biodynamic principles, with strict yield control to ensure concentration and balance. Harvest is carried out by hand, with careful sorting of bunches in the vineyard and at the winery. Fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts, often with a significant proportion of whole clusters to add perfume, texture and complexity. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels (with a moderate use of new oak) to preserve finesse and terroir expression, and is bottled with minimal intervention to capture the vineyard’s character as faithfully as possible.

Food & Serving
This Vosne-Romanée Colombière shines alongside refined, subtly flavored dishes that allow its elegance to take center stage: roast chicken with herbs, veal tenderloin, duck breast with a cherry or berry reduction, or mushroom-based dishes such as truffled risotto or wild mushroom ragout. It also pairs beautifully with mild, earthy cheeses like Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie or a well-aged Comté. Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F) to highlight its aromatic complexity and silkiness. In its youth, decanting for 30–60 minutes can help the wine open up; as it ages, a gentle splash decant just before serving is sufficient to remove any sediment and allow the bouquet to unfurl.

Producer
Domaine Comte de Liger-Belair is one of Burgundy’s historic, blue-chip estates, with roots in Vosne-Romanée that trace back to the early 19th century and a family lineage intertwined with some of the Côte d’Or’s finest vineyards. Under the guidance of Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, the domaine has reclaimed and elevated its holdings, many of which stand among the most coveted terroirs in Vosne and Nuits. Working with an artisanal, low-intervention philosophy and a strong commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture, the estate is renowned for producing wines of exceptional finesse, purity and sensuality. Today, Domaine Comte de Liger-Belair is considered a benchmark producer in the region, with its bottlings—village, premier cru and grand cru alike—highly sought after by collectors and Burgundy enthusiasts worldwide.