2020 Benjamin Leroux, Bourgogne, Rouge 6x75cl

Benjamin has been a good friend of ours since his days at Comte Armand, and his powerful, impressive winemaking style shines through in 2020 where concentration meets with backbone and guile in the Volnay commune. He remembers his first ever visit to the UK back in 1999 where he spent some time staying with Richard Wheeler (Johnny’s father, sadly passed away last year), memorable not least for the friendly dispute regarding the relative merits of local Mersea native Oysters versus their French counterparts! Benjamin’s Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans reflects the greatest attributes of this excellent vintage. Density, richness and structure are all to the fore in a cuvée which gets better with every passing vintage.
As Bourgogne Rouge goes, the underlying quality in this one has it already scaling the appellation ladder. Expertly selected pepper-potting of different sites from across the Hautes Côtes and Côte de Beaune, together with village wines from Pommard and further afield, provides Benjamin with the palate on which to create this outstanding introduction to his range. Ripe, heady and full of immediately accessible crunchy strawberry and violet fruit, the very soft tannins and a delightful freshness hold it all together. Smiles all ’round – unmissable!