Thibault Liger Belair

History of the Domaine des Pierres Roses - Thibault Liger-Belair

Thibault Liger-Belair comes from one of Burgundy's most illustrious winemaking families. The Marey and Comte Liger-Belair establishments have existed since 1720. Thibault founded his family estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges in 2001, from family vines spread across the greatest appellations: Richebourg, Vosne-Romanée, Clos de Vougeot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Gevrey-Chambertin. But it was at the Lycée Viticole de Belleville, in Beaujolais, that he completed his viticultural BTS, and it was there that Moulin-à-Vent became for him "a revelation." Every morning, he would open his shutters to the view of the hill of Moulin à Vent: "I have a principle that if the view is beautiful, the wines produced there should generally be beautiful wines too."

He purchased his first plots of Moulin-à-Vent in 2008, "one by one," selecting the finest on the historic hill of the appellation. The objective is clearly Burgundian: to isolate each soil type, each plot, in order to produce cuvées that resemble their terroir. "What surprised me first of all was seeing so many differences within such a small perimeter — it reminded me of the Burgundian terroirs. Practically none of the producers make a distinction between each of their cuvées." First vintage in 2009. The estate today reaches 14 hectares, certified Organic Agriculture, and stands among the absolute references of Moulin-à-Vent. The estate's winery is powered by geothermal and solar energy.

Terroirs and Vines of the Domaine des Pierres Roses - Thibault Liger-Belair

The vineyard of the Domaine des Pierres Roses is entirely situated on the historic hill of Moulin-à-Vent, spread across 9 distinct plots totalling 14 hectares. The soils are characteristic of the Moulin-à-Vent terroir: a shallow soil composed of white and pink sand, granite and quartz at 30 to 60 centimetres depth, rich in manganese. It is this manganese that is considered a key factor in the atypical power and structure of Moulin-à-Vent wines, earning it the nickname "lord of Beaujolais" and its reputation for wines that "pinotent." The vines of the Les Vieilles Vignes cuvée were planted between 1910 and 1955, making them 60 to 115 years old. The La Roche plot, on a slightly different terroir, expresses a more floral and taut character.

The entire vineyard is managed under certified organic farming, with the complete elimination of herbicides and the reintroduction of ploughing from the very first years. Yields are deliberately controlled. Harvesting is done by hand. The winery, built to the latest environmental standards, runs on geothermal and solar energy.

Vinifications of the Domaine des Pierres Roses - Thibault Liger-Belair

Thibault Liger-Belair applies exactly the same methodology to Beaujolais as in Burgundy: "we have reproduced the same working methods as the domaine de Nuits-Saint-Georges." Manual harvesting at full ripeness, controlled yields, fermentation partly with whole bunches whose proportion varies without dogmatism depending on the cuvées and vintages (around 40% for Les Vieilles Vignes). Ageing takes place in oak foudres for the Les Vieilles Vignes and La Roche cuvées, so as not to impart wood influence on the wines. For the other cuvées, a very precise selection of wood is carried out with two dedicated coopers, with a maximum of 50% new oak. The wines are certified Organic Agriculture.

The Cuvées of the Domaine des Pierres Roses - Thibault Liger-Belair

Moulin-à-Vent Les Vieilles Vignes: The estate's emblematic "flagship" cuvée, sourced from a blend of 9 plots situated around the hill of Moulin-à-Vent, with vines planted between 1910 and 1955. Shallow soil of white and pink sand, granite and quartz. 100% Gamay, 40% whole bunches. Aged in oak foudres. Deep red colour, vivid and intense nose of black fruit with liquorice and pepper notes. Dense, elegant palate with remarkable persistence and length. "An exceptional concentration from the very first nose." Best enjoyed between 2023 and 2034 for the 2020 vintage. The absolute ambassador of what Moulin-à-Vent can produce at its finest.

Moulin-à-Vent La Roche: A parcel cuvée sourced from one of the estate's 9 plots on a slightly different terroir, expressing "a more floral and taut character" than Les Vieilles Vignes. Aged in oak foudres. A red wine of characteristic elegance and mineral tension, with aromas of violet, cherry and gentle spices. A complementary and distinct expression of the same vineyard, bearing witness to the diversity of terroirs on the hill of Moulin-à-Vent.

Moulin-à-Vent (Additional Parcel Cuvées): The Domaine des Pierres Roses produces several additional parcel cuvées from the 9 plots of the vineyard, each expressing the singularity of its lieu-dit. In the spirit of Burgundy, Thibault isolates each terroir to reveal its own nuances: granite soils of varying depth, slightly different exposures, varied vine ages. These additional cuvées, produced in very limited quantities, are the most precise expression of the Burgundian vision applied to the Gamay of Moulin-à-Vent.