2024 Benjamin Leroux Blagny 1er Cru "La Pièce Sous Le Bois", Burgundy, France

ABOUT THE WINE

The 2024 Blagny 1er Cru "La Pièce Sous Le Bois" is sourced from one of Blagny's highest and coolest Premier Cru vineyards, perched above Meursault and bordering Puligny-Montrachet. The combination of shallow limestone soils, excellent drainage, and higher elevation produces Pinot Noir with exceptional aromatic lift, refined structure, and pronounced mineral character.

The bouquet opens with expressive notes of red cherry, wild raspberry, cranberry, and crushed strawberries, layered with violets, rose petals, sweet baking spices, and hints of woodland herbs, graphite, and damp earth. On the palate, the wine is beautifully poised, combining pure red fruit with lively acidity and finely woven tannins. The cool site imparts remarkable freshness and tension, while subtle oak aging enhances texture without masking the vineyard's distinctive character. The finish is long, precise, and marked by a persistent chalky minerality.

Benjamin Leroux harvests the fruit by hand and carefully sorts each cluster before fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Gentle extraction preserves the wine's aromatic delicacy and silky tannin profile, while maturation in French oak barrels, with only a modest proportion of new oak, adds depth and complexity. Minimal intervention throughout élevage allows the Premier Cru terroir to speak with clarity.

While approachable after a few years in bottle, this wine has the structure and balance to develop beautifully over the next 10–15 years.

Food Pairing: An exceptional match for duck breast, roast quail, herb-crusted lamb, veal, wild mushroom dishes, game birds, or aged Gruyère and Comté.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Benjamin Leroux is recognized as one of Burgundy's most respected contemporary winemakers. Following his tenure as régisseur at Comte Armand, he established his own domaine and négociant house in 2007, earning international acclaim for wines that faithfully express the individuality of Burgundy's finest vineyards.

Leroux works with sustainably farmed vineyard parcels and trusted grower partners, emphasizing meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and careful harvesting. In the cellar, he favors native yeast fermentations, gentle extraction, restrained use of French oak, and minimal intervention, ensuring each wine reflects its terroir with purity and precision.

His wines are celebrated for their elegance, transparency, and balance, combining classical Burgundian character with modern precision. The Blagny 1er Cru "La Pièce Sous Le Bois" is a superb example of this philosophy, offering a refined, mineral-driven Pinot Noir with exceptional complexity and aging potential.