2020 Auxey-Duresses Blanc, Benjamin Leroux, Burgundy
Critics reviews
Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (January 2022)
There is a lovely lemony fruit here, but more richness than one might typically find in Auxey. The wine is blended from parcels all along the border of Meursault: Les Boutonniers, La Macabrée, and Les Hautés. These face north after the hill has turned into the valley of the Ruisseau des Cloux and towards the Hautes-Côtes. Exquisite balance, thrilling freshness and that singing lemony fruit.
Drink 2022 - 2035
Charles Curtis MW, Decanter.com (Nov 2021)
About this WINE
Benjamin Leroux
Having created a name for himself as régisseur (general manager) of Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard, Benjamin Leroux established, with English backing, a small négociant business based in Beaune since 2007. The range is confined to the Côte d’Or, from Chassagne-Montrachet to Gevrey-Chambertin, with the intention of developing farming contracts or indeed purchasing vineyards in the future.
The possibilities are very exciting for this exceptionally talented vigneron. Benjamin is a master at delivering purity of fruit alongside a seamless texture in his wines which have only the subtlest influence of oak. One of Benjamin’s favourite locations for white wine vineyards is the border between Auxey-Duresses and Meursault, which is where Les Vireuils can be found. Here the natural weight of Meursault is enhanced by the fresher minerality typical of the side valley of Auxey-Duresses.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.
Discover the story behind our Own Selection Bourgogne Côte d’Or Pinot Noir, made for us by Benjamin. Read more
Monthélie
A small village nestling in a valley behind Meursault and Volnay, Monthelie produces mostly red wines, mini-Volnays with appealing fruit but sometimes a rustic edge, and a small amount of white wine. The best wines come from the steep slopes above the village, such as Les Duresses.
- 109 hectares of village Monthelie.
- 31 hectares of premier cru vineyards (11 in all). Best vineyard is Les Duresses.
- Recommended Producer: Lafon
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
This is the classic blend of Hautés, Macabrée and Boutonniers, all of which face east and north-east, giving a sizzling mineral freshness to the wine. It’s mostly made in foudre, with a few 600-litre barrels, one of which was new. Weighing in at an invigorating 12.6%, this is all lemon, grapefruit and lime, with a pure, stony finish. Drink 2023-2029.
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