2020 Benjamin Leroux Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Magnum

Benjamin Leroux and his vision of Burgundy Benjamin Leroux, born and trained in Beaune, is considered one of the most talented winemakers of his generation in Burgundy. After an impressive tenure as cellar master at Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard, he established his own micro-négociant in the heart of Beaune in 2007. His philosophy is clear: working with small, carefully selected plots, organic principles, and minimal intervention in the cellar. This allows him to bring the purity and authenticity of each terroir to life. Leroux combines an exceptional sense of balance with technical precision. His white wines are refined, linear, and mineral, while his reds display energy and structure. What makes his style unique is his control over every stage of the process—from harvest to bottling—and his emphasis on texture and length rather than power alone. The origin: Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru The Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard, located between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, is one of the most prestigious Chardonnay terroirs in the world. The soil consists of limestone with a thin layer of clay, which gives the wines their richness, structure, and deep minerality. While Le Montrachet often displays pure finesse, Bâtard-Montrachet is broader and more powerful, with an expression based on both maturity and complexity. The wines possess a natural depth and aromatic intensity that develops over time into an almost silky harmony. The 2020 vintage: ripe and lively The 2020 growing season in Burgundy was warm and dry, but with cool nights that preserved the acidity. Leroux began harvesting on August 20th , slightly earlier than planned, to preserve freshness and tension in the grapes. The use of refrigerated storage allowed the harvested bunches to be kept at a constant temperature below 13°C, enhancing their aromatic precision. Benjamin Leroux describes his 2020 wines as concentrated yet balanced. The whites display ripe fruit and remarkable purity, while the structure is supported by refined acidity. The vintage is distinguished by intensity without heaviness—something beautifully expressed in the finest cuvées, such as his Bâtard-Montrachet. Vinification and maturation The 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru was fermented in a new 500-liter oak barrel and then transferred in September to two older barrels and a small 50-liter stainless steel tank for further aging. This combination gives the wine a layered profile, in which the oak influence remains subtly integrated. Leroux uses only Diam closures for its white wines to ensure a pure, controlled evolution in the bottle. His choice of larger barrels and limited new oak allows for greater transparency and precision, allowing the terroir of Bâtard-Montrachet to shine through without losing its rich texture. Tasting note 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Magnum The wine opens with a seductive bouquet of brioche, wild peach, quince, and passion fruit. The aroma is expressive and inviting – a wine that cannot be ignored. On the palate, it reveals a full, balanced profile with refined tension. The oak is still present on the attack, but it absorbs beautifully with age. In the background, tropical notes and ripe stone fruit emerge, with a hint of exotic fruit elegantly interwoven with its rich structure. The finish is long and complex, with lingering minerality that will further develop with age. This magnum version offers extra depth and a slower aging process, which will only enhance the harmony and integration in the years to come. Rating and style Neal Martin (Vinous) rated the wine 92-94 points , highlighting its attractive, brioche-like aroma and the balance between ripeness and freshness. He called the wine "well-balanced with tropical fruit and a mineral finish that will emerge with time." The wine has a drinking window of 2027 to 2048 and, according to Martin, displays the concentration and elegance that characterize Leroux's approach in 2020. Dri