Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Aligoté 2018

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.  

Benajmin Leroux has considerable pedigree with this variety as followers of Domaine Comte Armand will know. This year’s wine is from two sources: 90- to 100-year-old, goblet-pruned Aligoté vines from La Fortune in Bouzeron (Côte Chalonnaise) and a parcel of 50-year-old Estate-grown fruit in Meursault’s Les Belle Roses. Both vineyards are home to Aligoté Doré, the high-quality, low-yielding cultivar of this variety with skin that takes on an ochre hue when fully ripe. The 2018 was naturally fermented in tank and the aging was split between seasoned 12-hectolitre ovals and ten-year-old Burgundy barriques.

In bottle. Fine pretty pale colour, with a perfect tangy bouquet. Exactly what one expects. Half is from Bouzeron, La Fortune, half their own vines below Meursault. Fine and elegant, graceful even, no searing acidity. 12.2% natural. - Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Aligote
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.2%
Closure - Screw Cap