Benjamin Leroux Cote de Nuits-Villages 2023

A wonderful surprise in 2022, and arguably even finer in 2023. This wine is 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 of outstanding red and whites. Leroux jokes that the limestone dust from the nearby quarry helps keep the berries free from mildew. The vineyard is certified organic and managed by a friend and ex-colleague of Leroux. Sourced from two parcels across 0.25 hectares, one with 40-year-old vines and the other 15-plus-years-old, the wine started aging in barrel before finishing in foudre. It’s a lovely, classy red Burgundy at a great price. Importer’s notes.

“Mid ruby purple, with a light reduction. Elevage foudre and then bottled in August. Starts fine and elegant then gains stuffing further back, with good grip at the finish. The heady aromatics which denote the Côte de Nuits are readily apparent, and a fine juicy cherry and strawberry fruit finish.” 89 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy.