
Benjamin Leroux Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières 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.
Few will need reminding that Les Genevrières is one of Meursault’s greatest terroirs, arguably the finest after Les Perrières. This is drawn from two old-vine parcels in the gravelly limestone of the lower part (dessous) of Genevrières. The two parcels add up to a single hectare, making this Leroux’s largest 1er Cru. Previous incarnations of this wine have been labelled Genevrières-Dessous. This has caused confusion with the Domaine bottling from Genevrières-Dessus in the past, so Leroux has now decided to simply label this wine as Genevrières.
The 2020 Meursault Genevrières 1er Cru has a taut and fresh, slightly flinty bouquet, touches of lemon balm and cough candy in the background. The palate is very well balanced with a fine acidic spice, a bitter edge here, quite saline with a persistent finish. Excellent. - Neal Martin, Vinous, 93-95 Points
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%