2006 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Aux Reignots"

I was very surprised that Louis-Michel served the Reignots ahead of the Brûlées, as the beautiful Reignots here has long been one of the flagship wines in the Liger-Belair stables, even back when Bouchard Père et Fils was making the wines. The 2006 Reignots is stellar, as it offers up a beautiful nose of black cherries, plums, dark chocolate, vinesmoke, duck, minerals and a fine framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is fullish, long, pure and tangy, with great refinement, a rock solid core of fruit, great nascent complexity and a very long, ripely tannic and bouncy finish.

An elegant nose features plenty of spice elements on the restrained and cool aromas of rose petal, violet and various dark berry scents. The sense of restraint continues on the focused and overtly mineral-driven middle weight flavors that culminate in a mildly austere but balanced and highly persistent finish. This is still evolving and for my taste it remains at least 5ish years away from its ultimate apogee. Tasted twice in the last year with consistent notes.