Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Rouge 2023

Leroux’s Bourgogne Rouge has long been one of the benchmarks for how good regional Burgundy can be, and the 2023 release is no exception. This year’s blend pulls fruit from some excellent sites – Maison Dieu in Pommard, Mon Poulain in Volnay, and Les Belles Côtes in Meursault – with a little extra lift coming from Monthélie village and 1er cru parcels. It’s exactly this sort of sourcing that explains why this wine always tastes a step above its category.

Whole bunches were only used on the estate-grown components, keeping things bright and aromatic without pushing the style too hard. The élevage was a mix of a large 2,200L Grenier oak cask and a handful of smaller barrels, just 10% new, so the focus stays firmly on the fruit. In the glass it’s dark and juicy with a floral edge, carried by fine tannins that give it some real grip and length.

For many buyers this is the Leroux red to stock up on – it offers a glimpse of his more serious cuvées at a fraction of the price, and in 2023 it really punches above its weight.