Tasted at the La Romanée vertical at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. The 2005 La Romanée Grand Cru from Comte Liger-Belair has a very refined bouquet, far superior to the previous two vintages with black plum, cranberry and subtle marine influences, though it is still tightly-wound at the moment. But there is real class here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannin and very well-judged acidity. There is a touch of spice here, real tension with black truffle on the finish. This is an superb La Romanée but one that needs another few years. Tasted June 2015.

A wonderfully complete wine, with all the elements in place. It is ripe and powerful, the black fruits jammy and rich. But at the same time, the layer of acidity, the dark tannins and the succulent texture all come together in a finely balanced way. It is almost exotic, but the tannins promise good potential for aging. ——R.V.(12/31/2008)—— 96