Benjamin Leroux Cote de Nuits-Villages 2022

New. We missed out on the first release of this wine from 2021-Ben's UK importer tried it first and snapped up the lot! It's drawn from a hillside vineyard in Comblanchien, a village just south of Nuits-St-Georges that is gaining more and more attention (along with the neighbouring village of Corgoloin) as a source for outstanding reds. The vineyard is certified organic and managed by a friend and ex-colleague. Leroux jokes that the limestone dust from the nearby quarry helps keep the berries free from mildew. Bottled at 12.6%, it screams BURGUNDY. Again, it is far fresher, juicer and red-fruited than you might imagine from the vintage. A brilliant restaurant wine that's already delicious!

The second release of this wine and the first time being imported to Australia. Very good and dare I say good value. Nutty (walnut) flavours and drier and firmer compared to the Beaune wines. Fine and dusty with some back-half austerity. Long and linear with a line of moderate sweetness. Perfect for early drinking – already complex. Ian Cook, FWC.

?This has been bottled. An attractive lighter purple. The fruit on the nose starts discreetly but develops elegance behind. A surprising energy thereafter, an intense raspberry fruit, attractively balanced.? 89 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy.