Auxey-Duresses

Just half a crop, even with one extra vineyard this year. This is quite rich and relatively soft for Auxey, yet with lovely finish and some orange blossom and lime notes.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

As far as supply is concerned it’s a topsy turvy position in 2012. Overall, Ben has made plenty of wine but some cuvées are missing this year. The best volumes are with the Chassagne-Montrachet Premiers Crus, which are always a strong point chez Benjamin. From a standing start in 2007 Benjamin has made truly exciting progress, and has grown his business a little more quickly than expected as great opportunities have come his way. Yet each year he still doesn’t seem to have quite enough wine to satisfy demand. Wines marked † are bottled under stelvin screwcap closures.

With notes of lemon zest and freshly-mown grass, this somewhat restrained Auxey-Duresses is the perfect partner for January-detox salads.
Nicola Giacomelli, London Shop

This is one of Benjamin’s signature white wines, in its characteristic racy style. Lovely and attractive, elegant with a bit of flesh and a ripe, stylish finish. Lovely juicy fruit and very classy.
Jasper Morris MW - Wine Buyer
Ben Leroux has fast become one of the most respected winemakers in Burgundy (and, by definition, the world). Tasting at his premises in Beaune is something of a marathon given that he produces around 50 different wines. Be it whites or reds, Ben has a remarkable talent for delivering wines with purity, finesse and just the right degree of oak influence.

Comte Armand began their harvest on 25^th September, early for 2013, and this is reflected in the freshness of this lovely red Auxey-Duresses with its bright, vibrant fruit and delicate mouthfeel. Enjoy this over the next few years.
Anne McHale MW - Wine Education Specialist

Very lovely floral notes, confirming Benjamin’s view that this is the best vintage he has made in white. Lifted and vivacious on the palate, crisp behind but with appealing flesh, medium bodied but persistent. Drink 2016-2018.
Jasper Morris MW - BBR Buyer

Pale with green tints, some spring flowers along with matchstick reduction. Really impressive fruit on the palate, lively and long with excellent body. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Jean-Philippe Fichet is very excited with his 2013s, which he picked before the weekend of bad weather. He has also refined his techniques in the cellar, pressing the grapes for longer and settling out the juice less than before; both methods aimed at enhancing the vineyard character of each plot and making less ‘technical’ wines. A lovely range.

Rich, deep and purple in colour with an impressive volume of fruit, there’s greater density than the village wine and very good acidity here; this is crunchy but concentrated. Although less seductive than the village Auxey this is a serious wine for the medium term.

Paul Zinetti has replaced Benjamin Leroux as régisseur (general manager) at this famous estate. He has inherited a great position but also, alas, a tradition of hail-affected vintages. With this in mind, Paul has looked for lighter extraction in 2014, with less punching down than previously. He has been with the domaine for several years prior to taking over, so he is fully au fait with these vineyards. The village Auxey is a steal this year.

This is a lovely mid-purple in colour, boasting a beautiful nose of deep red fruit. The palate displays lovely sweet red griotte cherry fruit, followed by a lively but not trenchant acidity behind.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

This was Benjamin Leroux’s last vintage at Domaine du Comte Armand and possibly his smallest yet. Just 18 barrels of Clos des Epeneaux have been made, with a yield of around eight hectolitres per hectare. The vintage began on 25th September with good looking grapes and decent maturity. Benjamin is staying involved to see the vintage into bottle, though otherwise Paul Zinetti is now securely in charge.

This is all from Breterins this year, which escaped, and none from Les Duresses, which got ruined by the hail. Jet black in colour with purple rim, this is very firm and backward at the moment, tasted just after the malolactic fermentation.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Heavy hail fell on 30th June in the Volnay and Pommard vineyards, then in Auxey-Duresses in August. The generic Bourgogne vineyards got frosted somewhat as well, so across the whole domaine the yield is a miserable 12hl/ ha and may be even less for 2013. There will not be a Pommard Premier Cru this year. Fortunately winemaker and general manager Benjamin Leroux is of a sunny disposition, and, in any case, the wines are superb.