This is a Premier Cru red Burgundy from the La Toppe au Vert vineyard in Aloxe-Corton. Produced by Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, the 2013 vintage offers a tightly perfumed bouquet of violets, dark berries, earth, and a touch of foliage. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a touch of acidity, cassis notes, and a well-defined, delicate, straightforward finish featuring floral and silky elements. It shows elegant, racy power with silky ripe tannins and fine acidity. Burghound notes a top note of green tea over fresh red berry fruit, with middle-weight, intensely mineral-inflected flavors that are sleek and satiny, focused, balanced, and lingering—lighter in body but with good flavor authority.
Food Pairings:
- Classic matches include duck, goose, and game birds (e.g., roast duck). It also pairs well with grilled or roasted poultry, red meats, mushroom-based dishes, earthy vegetables, and soft or aged cheeses. Its elegant, mineral profile complements Thai or herb-infused cuisines in some modern pairings.
Critics Reviews
- Robert Parker / Wine Advocate (Luis Gutierrez or team): 90/100. Tasting note aligns with the producer’s description above (tightly perfumed bouquet of violets/dark berries/earth/foliage; medium-bodied with grainy tannins, acidity, cassis, floral notes, and silky finish).
- Allen Meadows (Burghound.com): Positive review (no numerical score published in available excerpts): “Top note of green tea to the very fresh red berry fruit suffused nose. The mouth feel of the middle weight and intensely mineral-inflected flavors is sleek, even satiny, all wrapped in a focused, balanced and lingering finish. This is on the lighter side but packs good flavor authority” (January 2015).
- Vivino (community average for the cuvée): ~4.1–4.2/5 across hundreds of ratings. Overall, it is praised for elegance, minerality, and balance in a lighter 2013 style.
Drink Window:
- 2016–2022 (per market data). The producer recommended enjoying it for the next 6–8 years from release. As of 2026, it is past the primary window but may still drink well if well-stored (many 2013 Premier Cru Burgundies hold gracefully due to the vintage’s acidity and structure). Drink now if you have bottles, ideally with decanting for older examples.
