Bourgogne Rouge 2023

This year's blend includes Bourgogne-level fruit from Leroux’s key sources: the excellent Maison Dieu in Pommard, Mon Poulain in Volnay, and Les Belles Côtes in Meursault. In 2023, these sites were complemented by village and 1er Cru wines from Monthélie. As always, this punches way above its weight division.

Benjamin Leroux Savigny-lès-Beaune 2023

The lion’s share of this release comes from the outstanding Aux Fourneaux lieu-dit in the north of the village. Leroux works with lots of Pinot Fin here (a high-quality, low-yielding Pinot Noir cultivar), giving low yields and great concentration. The fruit from these vines, fermented with 15% bunches, includes about 10% from the 1er Cru section of the vineyard.

Côte de Nuits-Villages

A wonderful surprise in 2022, and arguably even finer in 2023. This wine is drawn from a hillside vineyard in Comblanchien, a village just south of Nuits-St-Georges that is gaining more and more attention (along with the neighbouring village of Corgoloin) as a source of outstanding red and whites. It’s a lovely, classy red Burgundy at a great price.

Nuits-Saint-Georges

Another standout Nuits from Leroux. He believes this year’s wine is the best he has made so far. The lion’s share of the fruit was drawn from Aux Herbues on the Vosne border, then there is a parcel in Saints-Jacques, just next door, while Les Tuyaux, a stony terroir at the very northern end of the appellation, makes up the power trio. It’s elegant and fine, with some classy oak, but of course, the stamp of the terroir is still there with some earthy, ferrous tannins to close.

Volnay

Leroux is a master of Volnay and has produced outstanding examples for over two decades. Leaning towards Pommard in style, the deep clay soils and old vines here give density and ripe tannins, which Leroux complements with judicious use of whole bunches and maturation in large oak. It’s a deep yet wonderfully complex Pinot, and already drinking well. Outstanding for the level.

Gevrey-Chambertin

Another change here, meaning Leroux’s Gevrey-villages now comes entirely from vines in the north of the appellation. Now that En Champs has its own cuvée and Les Seuvrées in the south has gone, Les Crais, Creux Broulliard and Les Champerriers lead the charge. Suffice to say that Leroux is very happy with the new makeup. As for Nuits, so for Gevrey, with Leroux fashioning a village wine with a finesse and seduction rarely seen in this village.

Chambolle-Musigny

Albeit with a barrel of 1er Cru included, 2023 is mostly the same blend of Les Athets and Les Chardannes as the 2022. These two sites sit at the base of the Chambolle hill on clay, silt and limestone soils. Leroux has once again sculpted an outstanding rendition of the village. It’s pretty, perfumed, fine and juicy—in other words, it’s classic Chambolle!