Domaine du Comte Liger Belair   La Romanee

2003 La Romanee

By Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

2003 La Romanee from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Burgundy, France

The 2003 vintage was one which threw Burgundy into a tizzy of climatic extremities. Yet, it is precisely this year that saw the fruition of a notably exceptional 2003 La Romanee from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair—a vintage that reveals the mettle and adaptability of this storied vigneron.

 

An Exemplar of Triumph over Torrid 2003

In a vintage where lesser vineyards suffered under the searing European summer, the 2003 La Romanee emerges as a testament to resilience. This wine captures an enigmatic balance; vivacious fruit character and impeccably woven tannins speak to the mastery of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair's winemaking amidst the notorious scorcher that was the summer of 2003.

One might assume such thermal excess would overpower a wine, and yet this offering retains an aristocratic poise. On the palate, it dances with dark, sumptuous fruits: think ripe cherries and blackcurrants, edged by a delightful hint of truffle—a nod, perhaps, to its terroir's generosity even under duress. And while still opulent in youth, time has unfurled layers of nuanced flavour: a dash of spices here, foraged forest floor there. A true investment piece that has reached an elegant maturity without losing its vital core.

 

A Vintage Worthy of the Connoisseur's Portfolio

For fine wine enthusiasts making judicious additions to their collection or investors eyeing liquid assets with significant appreciation potential, few bottles command attention like the 2003 La Romanee. This wine solidifies itself in the realm of collectables not merely for its provenance or rarity but for how gracefully it articulated the tumultuous tale of its birth year.

As we consider the captivating journey from grape to glass, it's evident that the vintage has entwined with Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair’s winemaking philosophy to create not just a bottle of Burgundy, but a chronicle in vinous form—imbued with narrative depth as much as sensory delight. For those discerning enough to appreciate maturity blending with spirited resilience, securing a bottle of 2003 La Romanee from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair is not only an investment in wine but an acquisition of history.

Current market price

$116,230.00

12x75cl

Highest score

90

POP score

6963

Scores and tasting notes

90

Tasted at the La Romanée vertical at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. The 2003 La Romanée Grand Cru bottled by Comte Liger-Belair has a similar nose to the Bouchard Père bottling, perhaps with just a touch of fruité: plush strawberry, candied orange peel and Morello cherries, an underlying mineralité developing with time but also one of the few that shows a touch of brettanomyces. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannin, a little animally and savory, almost gamy with a little rusticity toward the finish. I have a slight preference of this compared to the Bouchard bottling. Having said that, it is not in the same class as the best subsequent vintages. Tasted June 2015.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30 July 2015

Vintage performance