20 years ago, a very knowledgable Burg person said to me - I should only be buying Leroys, (after tasting another disappointing Burg). Now I realize he was right. Of course, back then Leroy was expensive, but not stratospheric.
Regardless, one whiff of this nose, and I realized I had never experienced a nose like this in Burgundy. The classiest nose of a tinge of vosne spice with chambolle seduction all rolled into one.
On the palate, the wine was a combination of sweet chambolle flavors, with strawberries, blueberries, vanilla, spice, and an amazing finish. This is like candy in the mouth. There’s really no other wine that comes close to achieving this intensity with such a decadence of candy flavors. This is so different from 99% of all Burgs, that it’s really hard to conceive of.
This may not have the intensity of a great Musigny, but the fact that these flavors originate from grapes is nothing short of remarkable. The flavor of this wine, denotes such a red & black berry complexity, that grapes are the last thing you think of.
Unfortunately, this was my only bottle, because I feel this bottle could be even more interesting in 3-5 years.
Yes, I agree, throwing such accolades on a village wine may be sacrilege, but I have no doubt that Leroy’s prunage methods pay off.
Most of the lower level '01 Leroys I have sampled so far have been incredible. It’s hard to imagine how the Grand Crus can be any better, but I am looking forward to sampling a few of them in the years ahead.
I had the good fortune to taste the 1993 that my friend Alan opened a few weeks ago and it was similarly awesome. That wine could easily have been Grand Cru; it had all the elegance and finesse possible and the power and depth to improve over several hours. Easily the best Village level wine I’ve ever had and one of my WOTY.
Josh, a couple of thoughts: Leroy (before the Domaine Leroy existed) wines were always stratospheric, relatively speaking…IMO. At least since my first experiences with them in the mid-80s. I had a friend who sold them wholesale, and even with his “discounts”, which he passed onto me on them and on Ridge zins (which he also repped), they were, to me, way too expensive for what they were, vis a vis comparable appellations.
And, the “prunage” thing, whatever it might be, is more complicated than a “method”. I have seen a couple and read that many of her holdings accomplish their low yields by remaining unplanted in part i.e, the yield per hectare is lower because areas are unplanted. (I know this was the case in the Vosne-Beauxmonts; I saw it myself in 1996 there and in another vineyard that I can’t remember. Not sure if it is meant to mislead, but it sure contributes to low yields without adding the other benefits (than marketing) of low yields. In candor, though, I have no idea how prevalent this was/is, though I was told it was pretty prevalent in her holdings.
Joe Kluchinsky at MacArthur talked me into buying me some 2001 Leroy quite a few years back–the Chambolle Charmes, Gevrey Combottes and Vosne Les Beaux Monts–and I’m very, very happy he did. They’ve all been exceptionally good, and the price for Leroy wines these days is just too high for me.
josh. i am not so sure. maybe i am reading this wrong but this “candy” thing is if its your thing can be found in oregon pinot most of the time. i don’t know if i want all that much sweet/candy like fruit in my burg.