Benjamin Leroux was born in 1975 in Beaune, not to a vigneron family, yet decided in his teens that wine was what he wanted to do. After his enology studies, he worked at Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux, Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, Louis Jadot in Beaune, and Comte Armand in Pommard, where he was named technical director and manager at the age of 24.
In 2007, he founded his own domaine and négoce.
With eight hectares, Ben farms just under a third of his production. Though he worked organically and biodynamically from the beginning, it took him several years to apply for organic certification, which came in 2016. “It’s no secret that when you purchase or rent vineyards they are often not in great shape. The first two years, nothing grows,” he says. And while the recovery moves fast after that, he points out that at least five or six years are necessary to see a significant conversion when transitioning a vineyard from conventional farming, even though the certification process only takes three years.
Despite growing his domaine and negociant business from scratch, today he vinifies almost 30 hectares from a wide range of appellations, nine of which are domaine holdings that are farmed organically and biodynamically. His range spans the Côte from Chassagne-Montrachet to Gevrey-Chambertin, and includes all levels in Burgundy’s hierarchy. He believes small is beautiful, with attention to detail, knowing every inch of land and almost every vine and has made a reputation of prioritizing interesting parcels over how famous the appellation might be. This approach has led him to rediscover several unknown excellent terroirs which has become a hallmark of his own production.
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Size: 3.00 ha (7.41 ac)
Variety: Pinot Noir
Terroir: Blend of parcels from the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Santenay, Beaune, Ladoix, Savigny-lès-Beaune, and/or Fixin, depending on the vintage
Viticulture: Lutte raisonnée
Vinification: 100% de-stemmed, 10 days maceration, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 12 months in older oak barrels, unfined, unfiltered.
$55
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Size: 2.00 ha (4.94 ac)
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vine Age: Planted from 1935 to 1995
Terroir: Les Seuvrées (below Charmes Chambertin), La Justice (well-draining sand above solid limestone), Billard, Le Fourneau
Viticulture: Lutte raisonnée
Vinification: About 10% whole-cluster, 15 days maceration in tank, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 18 months in barrel (20% new), unfined, unfiltered.
$118
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Size: 2.00 ha (4.94 ac)
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vine Age: Planted from 1935 to 1995
Terroir: Les Seuvrées (below Charmes Chambertin), La Justice (well-draining sand above solid limestone), Billard, Le Fourneau
Viticulture: Lutte raisonnée
Vinification: About 10% whole-cluster, 15 days maceration in tank, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 18 months in barrel (20% new), unfined, unfiltered.
$128
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Size: 0.45 ha (1.11 ac)
Variety: Chardonnay
Vine Age: Planted in the mid-1970s
Terroir: High altitude, just below the forest at top of hill, facing east/southeast, terres blanches, meaning "white soils" abundant limestone
Viticulture: Lutte raisonnée
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressing, light settling before transfer to 300L barrels (15% new oak), indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 18 months, fined and/or filtered only if necessary.
$130
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Size: 1.4 ha (3.46 ac)
Variety: Chardonnay
Vine Age: Planted from 1977-1944
Terroir: Les Criots, Au Moulin Landin, Les Millerands, Bois de Blagny
Viticulture: Organic (certified) biodynamic methods
Vinification: Parcels vinified separately. Whole-cluster pressing, light settling before transfer to 300L barrels (15% new oak maximum) for indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 18 months.
$135
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Size: 0.44 ha (1.09 ac)
Variety: Chardonnay
Vine Age: Planted in 1953
Terroir: High "Saint Aubin-style" elevation, very rocky limestone and white clay soil
Viticulture: Organic (certified), biodynamic
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressing, light settling, transfer to barrels (older oak) for indigenous yeast fermentation and aging. Fined and/or filtered only if necessary.
$192
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Size: 0.44 ha (1.09 ac)
Variety: Chardonnay
Vine Age: Planted in 1953
Terroir: High "Saint Aubin-style" elevation, very rocky limestone and white clay soil
Viticulture: Organic (certified), biodynamic
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressing, light settling, transfer to barrels (older oak) for indigenous yeast fermentation and aging. Fined and/or filtered only if necessary.
$228
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