Benjamin Leroux Volnay Caillerets Rouge 2015

Tasting Notes

Cork. New Cuvée. Leroux could hardly conceal his excitement when he told us about his newest Volnay contract, and that excitement is certainly brought out by the wine itself. Bordering 1er Cru Santenots to the south and Champans to the north, this beautifully exposed vineyard sits on the mid-slope and is exploited by growers such as Angerville, Lafarge and Pousse d'Or. The 14-odd hectares of Caillerets are subdivided onto three lieux-dits, with Leroux now farming 0.5 hectares of Pinot Fin (planted between 1945 and 1985) in the area known as Caillerets Dessus. Crafted with 75% whole bunches, this is simply a stunning wine, shimmering with unforced, fleshy red and black fruits, great purity and surprising tension (for the vintage). The sole negative is that only three barrels were made.

Sweet Spot Outstanding. 'Here the nose is notably more complex with its broad-ranging aromas of spiced plum, dark currant, violet and an interesting whisper of orange peel. There is a wonderfully refined mouth feel to the intense, vibrant and mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that possess a sophisticated texture that transfers over to the serious, built-to-age and hugely persistent finish. This is a Caillerets of class and grace but one that is going to require bottle age first. " 91-94 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound issue 66