Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc 2011

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. I tasted a wide range of 2010s, but was only able to revisit a handful of 2009’s as production is just a barrel or two for most wines. These are 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. He will continue to manage Comte Armand despite now having his own range of wines (another sign of how well respected he is). The range is fine tuned – several grand cru wines are now in barrel for example – and new vineyard acquisitions will add to the offering, however Leroux is determined only to work with vineyards that have been well managed and produce outstanding fruit, regardless of whether or not they have famous names. He actually champions lesser known regions in Burgundy which is refreshing. This makes sense, Leroux’s knowledge of Burgundy is encyclopedic and producers like him are waking up the wine world to the fact that the reputation of many Cote d’Or vineyards has as much to do with the producers who work them than any intrinsic qualities of the sites themselves.
This is not your average Bourgogne. It comes in the main from 60-year-old vines rooted in a single site near Meursault called Les Millerands (because of the small bunches and berries that result in this terroir). This year’s wine has a healthy slug of Puligny fruit for good measure. It spends one year in barrel and then six months in tank on lees.  Leroux says that this reminds him of his outstanding 2008 Bourgogne Blanc.  It offers a bright, grapefruity nose and a lovely round, stony palate with lots of fresh stone fruit and citrus notes.  Great freshness and clarity as well as greater depth and finesse than you would expect for the level.  A fine start!