BENJAMIN LEROUX Auxey-Duresses - Cote de Beaune 2022 Bottle

Description

Benjamin Leroux made a name for himself at Domaine du Comte Armand where he was general manager until 2014. He found time to launch his own label in 2007 and now produces wines from over 50 vineyards. Apart from seven hectares owned by the domaine, he buys grapes from trusted organic or biodynamic growers. All the wines are treated with the same meticulous approach, so there is no differentiation on the label. The 2022 vintage was a ‘very good vintage across the board’ according to Benjamin with ‘superb, healthy’ fruit and a decent crop, close to 2020 with a little more in red. What set the vintage apart from other warm, dry years were cool temperatures at night. Nevertheless, it was important to pick at the right moment to maintain acidity, an increasingly important factor with global warming. As with others, Benjamin chose to start harvesting early.

Jasper Morris MW - 90 points - "Picked on 31st August at a refreshing 12.6%, and now in bottle. Pale clear colour. Ripe apples but with excellent energy at the back, the usual citrus note added to the white fruit - mineral, racy and quite delicious." Drink 2026 - 2029.