Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Cave des Ducs 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. One of the signature cuvées of the Leroux stable, Clos de la Cave des Ducs is a 0.64-hectare monopole vineyard owned by the family of Leroux’s right-hand man, Jean-Charles Carré. It’s a wine that was rarely seen before Leroux started bottling this site in 2007. It’s the highest 1er Cru of Volnay and the vines sit on fine, light soils. The vines are up to 80 years old (with an average age of 50 years) and include some 20-year-old massale selection vines sourced from Comte Armand’s Clos des Epeneaux. The site is managed biodynamically and with meticulous care, and here Carré and Leroux test their most progressive viticulture. Leroux has noted that recent harvests have seen the Clos move towards a finer, more floral expression. This year he retained around 20% whole bunches. One of the darker purple colours, and the nose shows a certain concentrated ripeness, not quite as complete as Santenots in terms of fruit volume, but it has retained its usual elegance and length. Some whole bunch suggestion, though Benjamin does not use a lot. – Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Pinot Noir Country – France Region – Burgundy Vintage – 2020 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14%