Benjamin Leroux Volnay Clos de la Cave des Ducs Rouge 2020 1500ml

Tasting Notes

Cork. Clos de la Cave des Ducs is a monopole vineyard that measures only 0.64 hectare and is owned by the family of Leroux's right hand man, Jean-Charles Carré. It's a wine that was rarely seen before Leroux started bottling this site. With Jean-Charles, Leroux controls every aspect of viticulture and so the site is managed biodynamically and with meticulous care. The vineyard is situated within the upper boundaries of the village ‚– the highest 1er cru of Volnay in fact - on fine, light soils. The oldest vines here are now eighty years old although the average age evens out to about 50 years, and includes a 20 year old massale selection parcel sourced from Comte Armand's Clos des Epeneaux. This year Leroux utilised 60% whole bunch ferments and just 20% new oak. As Neal Martin alludes to, it's a wine that somewhat contradicts the flamboyant stereotype of the vintage; a striking synthesis of floral, silky fruit, classical, high born structure and lasting freshness and drive.

'The floral elements are even more prominent here with a similar fruit profile. The tighter and even more delineated flavors possess a taut muscularity as well as firmer if slightly less fine structure on the impressively long, youthfully austere and balanced finale. " 90-92 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound issue 66

'The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Caves des Ducs has a very pure bouquet: blackberry, raspberry coulis, a touch of wild forest floor and minerals - there is wonderful focus and control here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, the 50% whole bunch adding a little more edginess compared to the completely de-stemmed Volnay les Mitans, with precision all the way through to the finish. This is a "killer" offering from Benjamin Leroux. " 92-94 points Neal Martin, Wine Advocate #228