2022 Benjamin Leroux Côte de Nuits-Villages, Burgundy

This has been bottled. An attractive lighter purple. The fruit on the nose starts discreetly but develops elegance behind. A surprising energy thereafter, an intense raspberry fruit, attractively balanced.

89 points Jasper Morris MW Inside Burgundy

New. We missed out on the first release of this wine from 2021—Ben’s UK importer tried it first and snapped up the lot! It’s drawn from a hillside vineyard in Comblanchien, a village just south of Nuits-St-Georges that is gaining more and more attention (along with the neighbouring village of Corgoloin) as a source for outstanding reds. The vineyard is certified organic and managed by a friend and ex-colleague. Leroux jokes that the limestone dust from the nearby quarry helps keep the berries free from mildew. Bottled at 12.6%, it screams BURGUNDY. Again, it is far fresher, juicer and red-fruited than you might imagine from the vintage. A brilliant restaurant wine that’s already delicious!