Ben 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.
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Size: 2.00 ha (4.94 ac)
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Variety: Pinot Noir
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Vine Age: Planted from 1935 to 1995
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Terroir: Les Seuvrées (below Charmes Chambertin), La Justice (well-draining sand above solid limestone), Billard, Le Fourneau
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Viticulture: Lutte raisonnée
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Vinification: About 10% whole-cluster, 15 days maceration in tank, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 18 months in barrel (20% new), unfined, unfiltered.
If you’re not familiar with Leroux, he became the technical director of Comte Armand at 24, before which he enrolled in viticultural school at 15. In other words, the writing was on the wall. His style is polished, elegant, and vibrant. Despite rapidly trending toward ‘benchmark’ status amongst people who know what’s up, his wines still offer phenomenal value for the price.
