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.
Comments about Leroux’s 2015’s …
“As the ratings and commentaries demonstrate, 2015 was a first-rate vintage for Leroux. However, I was particularly impressed with some of the villages level wines as they box well above their respective weight class in the appellation hierarchy.” Allen Meadows, Burghound
“Leroux’s 2015s… combine silkiness and power and avoid edgy tannins.” Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com
“I will leave the [2015] tasting notes to do the talking. There are some exceptional wines here that rank alongside the illustrious names of Burgundy. He certainly has the gift of touch that seems to elevate everything from village crus to grand crus.” Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
Cork. Clos de la Cave des Ducs is a monopole vineyard that measures only 0.64 hectare and is owned by the family of Leroux’s right hand man, Jean-Charles Carré. It’s a wine that was rarely seen before Leroux started bottling this site. With Jean-Charles, Leroux controls every aspect of viticulture and so the site is managed biodynamically and with meticulous care. The vineyard is situated within the upper boundaries of the village – the highest 1er cru of Volnay in fact – on fine, light soils. The oldest vines here are now eighty years old although the average age evens out to about 50 years, and includes a 20 year old massale selection parcel sourced from Comte Armand’s Clos des Epeneaux. This year Leroux utilised 60% whole bunch ferments and just 20% new oak. As Neal Martin alludes to, it’s a wine that somewhat contradicts the flamboyant stereotype of the vintage; a striking synthesis of floral, silky fruit, classical, high born structure and lasting freshness and drive.
“The floral elements are even more prominent here with a similar fruit profile. The tighter and even more delineated flavors possess a taut muscularity as well as firmer if slightly less fine structure on the impressively long, youthfully austere and balanced finale.” 90-92 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound issue 66
“The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Caves des Ducs has a very pure bouquet: blackberry, raspberry coulis, a touch of wild forest floor and minerals – there is wonderful focus and control here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, the 50% whole bunch adding a little more edginess compared to the completely de-stemmed Volnay les Mitans, with precision all the way through to the finish. This is a “killer” offering from Benjamin Leroux.” 92-94 points Neal Martin, Wine Advocate #228
RRP $244 Very limited!
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