Description
“You may remember that when I asked Allen Meadows, aka Burghound, on this video who he thought might be a natural heir to the late great Henri Jayer of Burgundy, one of the two people he cited was young Benjamin Leroux (of Domaine Comte Armand.)” Jancis Robinson, Jan 2009, www.jancisrobinson.com
“Leroux’s passion, ambition and sheer talent have already resulted in a number of stunning, beautiful wines, but my sense is that the best is yet to come.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011
“Benjamin Leroux is quiet and unassuming, but his wines more than speak for themselves … some of the most interesting wines being made in Burgundy today.” Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
As the Jancis Robinson/Burghound quote above makes clear, Leroux is considered one of the most gifted and knowledgeable wine growers in the whole Cote d’Or. You just have to ask any serious Bourgogne producer about Leroux to understand the respect he has garnered amongst his colleagues in the region. He was always considered a prodigy, studying at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune from the age of 13 and taking the reins at the esteemed Domaine Comte Armand when he was only 26. Leroux’s success with the Domaine’s wines over the last decade has well justified the decision to appoint such a young man to run the show.
Another success for this over-delivering cuvée, which this year is made up of Santenay 1er Cru Commes, Beaune 1er Cru Les Cent-Vignes, Monthelie (villages and 1er Cru), Saint-Romain, Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and a little (25%) Estate Bourgogne from Pommard. This cuvée is now being raised in a 50-hectolitre Grenier cask, a vessel so large that it had to be assembled in the cellar. There is no new oak and the grapes for the 2016 were entirely destemmed (although with lots of whole berries). A lovely wine that has way too much class for the level. It’s loaded with raspberry and iodine and spice and has terrific flesh and balance.
“Outstanding. Top Value.” Allen Meadows, Burghound, Issue 70
“Bright medium red. Lively perfume of raspberry, blood orange and flowers. Very pretty, leanish wine with excellent intensity and definition to its flavors of red fruits and flowers. This delightful Bourgogne includes a lot of Beaune villages and premier cru fruit, as production in these vineyards was too tiny to merit separate bottlings.” 89 points, Stephen Tanzer, vinous.com
“The 2016 Bourgogne Rouge was aged in wooden tank, bottled mid-October and includes a potpourri of vineyards from here, there and everywhere that had been frosted. This has a delightful bouquet with vivid red cherry and strawberry fruit that is well defined and probably more like a village cru. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh red berry fruit mixed with bay leaf and a touch of black tea. I was smitten by this modest generic red and I bet it will be good value for money.” 88 points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate #234
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