Benjamin Leroux, Burgundy: 10 Spectacular Wines, Winemaking

Benjamin Leroux is widely held as one of the most gifted winemakers of his generation. 

The collection of small, hand-crafted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine cuvées from prestigious appellations in Burgundy are coveted by collectors across the globe. Their purity of fruit, smooth texture, and the subtle influence of oak is nothing short of legendary!

Curious to know which bottles of Benjamin Leroux to try? 

Get to know Benjamin Leroux a little better — including his vineyard philosophy, his winemaking methods, and whether you should invest in Benjamin Leroux vintages.

A Little About Benjamin Leroux Wines

Benjamin Leroux first earned his reputation as general manager of the famed Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard. 

He launched his own label in 2007, when he established a micro-negociant business in Beaune (backed by a partner from the United Kingdom), sharing his winery with Dominique Lafon and two other winegrowers. 

Unlike most negociants, Ben Leroux never purchases grape juice or finished wine but manages his own vineyards, and works closely with the growers to ensure quality vines that produce outstanding fruit. 

His range of wines encompasses all levels of the Burgundy wine tier — from those under the entry-level Bourgogne appellation up to exclusive cuvées from Grand Cru vineyards like Bâtard-Montrachet. 

Thought to be one of the most intriguing producers in Burgundy, his wines are suited to both early-drinking and years of cellaring.

Next, let’s explore the incredible range of wines from this talented wine producer.

10 Luxurious Benjamin Leroux Wines to Try

Here’s a collection of phenomenal Ben Leroux wines. Prices below are for a full 750ml bottle though some Benjamin Leroux wines are also available in half bottles.

• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France
• 2016 Benjamin Leroux Les Amoureuses, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France 
• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Chambertin Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits, France
• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits, France
• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits, France
• 2017 Benjamin Leroux Mazoyeres Chambertin Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits, France
• 2018 Benjamin Leroux Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France
• 2018 Benjamin Leroux Vosne Romanée, Burgundy, France
• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, France
• 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy, France

1. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($610)

This 2019 Batard-Montrachet comes from 60 year old vines and is beautifully balanced. It displays a sensual fruit flavor profile with ripe pear notes and hints of spice and white flowers.

2. 2016 Benjamin Leroux Les Amoureuses, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France ($600)

This 2016 Pinot Noir vintage offers an elegant nose of red currant, spice, and discreet oak. The silky and seductive mouthfeel ends with an impressive, lengthy finale. 

3. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($440)

Experience dark berries, tea, and forest floor notes in this lovely 2019 vintage, made from the outstanding fruit of an old vine plot.

4. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($380)

Wine critic Neal Martin granted this vintage 94-96 points for its refined tasting notes of earthy red fruit, crushed rose petals, and white tea hints.

5. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($340)

This Grand Cru Pinot Noir offers notes of plums, sweet berry fruit, licorice, and toasty oak. The rich and full-bodied, layered and concentrated vintage received a score of 94 from Wine Advocate.

6. 2017 Benjamin Leroux Mazoyeres-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($270)

The 2017 vintage offers notes of black fruit, briar, violet, and incense. The medium-bodied palate has supple tannins and layers of truffle-tinged black fruit. Critic Neal Martin awarded it 93-95 points.

7. 2018 Benjamin Leroux Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($190)

The lovely white wine offers a wealth of white fruit and spice. Rich and creamy on the palate, there is a backbone of acidity, which ends on a deep and long finish.

8. 2018 Benjamin Leroux Vosne Romanée, Burgundy, France ($90)

Tasting notes for this Vosne Romanée Village wine include rose petals, wild berries, plum, and spice. The medium-bodied palate is velvety, framed by fine tannins. Wine Advocate graced it with 88-90 points.

9. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, France ($80)

The 2019 vintage comes from old vines of four parcels —  Les Seuvrées, La Justice, Le Forneau, and Billard. This wine is bright and vivid, with ripe dark fruit notes.

10. 2019 Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy, France ($40)

The 2019 Bourgogne Blanc displays notes of tropical fruit, mint, apple blossoms, and honey. The medium-bodied palate is bright and chalky, with more fruit towards the finish.  

Investing in Benjamin Leroux Wine

To invest in a fine Benjamin Leroux wine, you can use the services of Vinovest. The AI-based platform makes buying, storing, and selling collectible wines easier than ever before. 

Benjamin Leroux produces wines at a small scale, and many are from prestigious appellations. 

Combined with his unique touch, these undoubtedly result in wines of great quality.

These wines show a good investment potential and stable price appreciation over the years. For example:

• The 2019 Benjamin Leroux Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru jumped from $379 in February 2021 to $605 in December 2021, resulting in a 60% increase in less than a year.
• The 2018 Benjamin Leroux Les Amoureuses Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru appreciated by 60% from $315 in 2020 to $503 in 2021.

These wines also do fairly well at auctions. Six bottles of 2013 Benjamin Leroux Bâtard-Montrachet were sold for $1,927 ($321 per bottle) at a Christie's auction in 2021.

Now, Benjamin Leroux maintains a close relationship with all the vineyards he works with, regardless of wine type or appellation level. 

Let’s explore more.

Benjamin Leroux Vineyard Practices

Benjamin Leroux vinifies about 30 hectares of vineyard holdings planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and some Aligote. 

The vineyards span over a wine range of appellations from Gevrey-Chambertin in Côte dOr to Bouzeron of Cote Chalonnaise. 

Ben Leroux focuses on collaborating with growers who work with top quality vines and fruit. Vines are at least lutte raisonnée (using as few chemicals as possible), and many are organically or biodynamically managed. He nominates the harvest dates and picks the fruit himself if needed. 

Benjamin Leroux Winemaking

Here’s an overview of Ben Leroux’s  winemaking process:

A. White Wine

Grapes intended for the white wine type are pressed whole-cluster, and fermentation is conducted with indigenous yeast. The wines are aged 12-22 months in barrels, foudres, or stainless steel tanks. 

Fining isn’t systematic, and filtration is generally avoided. From 2019 onwards, white wine bottles are sealed with Diam corks.

B. Red Wine

The fruit is cooled to 15°C before fermentation with indigenous yeast. Maceration lasts for about three weeks. The red wine is aged 12-22 months, typically in barrels but some in large foudres. The wine is never fined, and filtration is rarely done. 

Interesting Facts About Benjamin Leroux

Here are some more interesting facts on Benjamin Leroux:

1. He managed Domaine du Comte Armand at 24

At 24 years old, Benjamin was handed over the winemaking reins at Domaine du Comte Armand from his mentor, Pascal Marchand — a remarkable vote of confidence for a young talent. 

When Jancis Robinson asked Allen Meadows who he thought might be a natural heir to Burgundy’s late great Henri Jayer — one of the two people Allen Meadows cited was young Benjamin Leroux of Domaine Comte Armand. 

2. He’s not part of a vigneron family

Benjamin Leroux was born in 1975 in Beaune, growing up surrounded by vineyards though he wasn’t part of a vigneron family. His interest in wines was sparked early, spurring him into winemaking studies at the young age of 13. 

His working experience has brought him to Oregon, New Zealand, Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, and finally settling back in Burgundy.   

3. He rents a monopole vineyard

Benjamin Leroux rents a monopole vineyard exclusively — the 0.6-hectare Volnay Premier Cru Clos de Les Caves. This is somewhat unusual as Burgundy vineyards are typically shared between many owners. 

Exceptional Benjamin Leroux Vintages for Your Cellars!

Making some of the most exciting wines in Burgundy today, Benjamin Leroux is a producer to keep a close eye on as he continues his innovations in the wine world. The possibilities are endless for this incredibly talented vigneron and his winery.     

And if you need help buying fine wine — be it a rare Burgundy or South African Chenin Blanc — check out Vinovest. If you need delivery to your doorstep, that’s easily done too.