2024 Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots", Burgundy, France

ABOUT THE WINE

The 2024 Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" is sourced from one of Volnay's most celebrated Premier Cru vineyards, situated on the border with Meursault. Despite its location within Meursault, the site is planted to Pinot Noir and is entitled to the prestigious Volnay Premier Cru appellation. The vineyard's limestone-rich soils and ideal exposure produce wines renowned for their perfume, finesse, and remarkable aging potential.

The nose is intensely aromatic, revealing layers of wild cherry, raspberry, red currant, crushed violets, and rose petals, intertwined with notes of sweet baking spice, forest floor, black tea, and subtle graphite. On the palate, the wine is both refined and concentrated, offering exceptional purity of fruit supported by vibrant acidity and remarkably fine, silky tannins. The structure is elegant rather than imposing, while the long finish is defined by lingering floral notes and a pronounced mineral freshness.

Benjamin Leroux harvests the fruit by hand and carefully sorts each cluster before fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Gentle extraction preserves the vineyard's naturally delicate perfume and texture, while maturation in French oak barrels, using only a restrained proportion of new oak, enhances complexity without overshadowing the wine's sense of place. Minimal intervention throughout élevage ensures the distinctive character of Les Santenots remains the focal point.

Although captivating in its youth, this Premier Cru possesses the balance and structure to evolve gracefully for 12–20 years, gaining further complexity and nuance with bottle age.

Food Pairing: A superb companion to duck breast, roasted squab, rack of lamb, venison, wild mushroom dishes, truffle-infused cuisine, or mature Comté and Gruyère.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Benjamin Leroux is widely regarded as one of Burgundy's most gifted contemporary winemakers. Following his distinguished tenure as régisseur at Comte Armand, he established his own domaine and négociant house in 2007, earning international recognition for wines that emphasize purity, elegance, and transparent expressions of terroir.

Working with sustainably farmed vineyards and long-standing grower partners, Leroux prioritizes meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and careful harvesting. In the cellar, he employs native yeast fermentations, gentle extraction, restrained use of French oak, and minimal intervention, allowing each vineyard to express its individual identity with clarity and precision.

Today, Benjamin Leroux's wines are celebrated for their balance, finesse, and authenticity. The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" stands among his finest Premier Cru bottlings, beautifully expressing the vineyard's hallmark combination of floral elegance, silky texture, mineral complexity, and exceptional longevity.