Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin 'En Champs' 2022

New. This vineyard has historically been blended into Leroux's Gevrey villages, yet it had been so good for the last three vintages that Leroux was tempted to bottle it separately. Finally, he succumbed, bottling five barrels as their own cuvee. Close to the Brochon borderline, En Champs is located high up on the slope, just beneath the 1er Cru Champeaux at the northern end of what is sometimes called the 'Cote Saint-Jacques'. Some followers of Domaine Denis Mortet will have had outstanding examples of this high-grown terroir in the past. The soils here are very stony with red clays, and the cooling winds and altitude moderate the climate. The Leroux example is a deeper, more serious and ferrous wine than the main village bottling. There's lovely, high-toned fruit, loads of spice, and very fine tannins on the finish. It was fermented with 40 to 50% bunches.

Outstanding, powerful, ferrous notes overlaying sweet fruited, generous charm. The grunt really sleeps below the surface at this stage. Will cellar very well. Ian Cook, FWC.

Consistently the most interesting of the Brochon side options chez Benjamin, En Champs this year has been given its own cuvee, amounting to five barrels. It is a little headier, with richer dark red fruit, and with an extra tannin or two, so will take more time. 91-93 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy.