Benjamin Leroux Vosne-Romanée 2020

Benjamin Leroux was born in Beaune, not to a vigneron family, but decided in his teens that he wanted to make wine and at the age of 13 attended the  Lycée Viticole in Baune. After his oenology studies, he worked at Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux, Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, Louis Jadot in Beaune before making a name for himself as the régisseur (general manager) of Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard. Benjamin Leroux established a small negociant business in 2007. For fifteen years, this has been one of the most dynamic cellars on the Côte in terms of winemaking. Leroux works with some 50 appellations and every wine has its own bespoke treatment according to the conditions of each vintage.  

Leroux now controls two hectares in Vosne, and the 2020 villages wine benefited from the fruit of five separate lieux-dits. Importantly, these vineyards are home to excellent vine stock—almost exclusively old selections of Pinot Fin. From north to south these sites include Maizières Basses (organically farmed with 60-year-old Pinot Fin vines); a small portion of Les Violettes; a new parcel of old-vine Pinot Fin in Genaivrières (just beneath the vines of Domaine Leroy); and finally, there is Les Jacquines and Au-Dessus de la Rivière. These parcels span the various terroirs of the village, and each was vinified separately. The one-third whole bunch quota derives mostly from the two northern parcels. It’s another super example of this village.

There is a very pretty, perfumed and high-toned red fruit, with notes of pomegranate and a hint of menthol. On the palate, the wine is fresh and firm, with some fairly solid tannins. This should open up well and it would do better with a bit of age to help it loosen its grip. Blended from Les Violettes and Maizières Basses in Flagey, and Aux Genaivrières, Audessous de la Rivière and Les Jacqueline in Vosne, with a good quarter of the fruit fermented as whole clusters. This was the first parcel picked in the Côte de Nuits. - Charles Curtis MW, Decanter, 93 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%