Domaine Leroy: Winemaking, Best Wines, Prices (2024)
Keen to explore Domaine Leroy and its prestigious wines?
Domaine Leroy’s red Burgundies are regarded as some of the rarest and most elegant ones in the world.
The illustrious Domaine has many generations of rich history behind it. Today, it's headed by one of the few female winemakers of Burgundy - Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy - who’s also known as the “Queen of Burgundy wine.”
What kind of wines does Domaine Leroy make, and what’s the secret behind the winemaking?
Let’s discover all there is to know about the iconic wine estate, including The Best Domaine Leroy Wines To Buy and How To Invest In Them.
Further reading
- Start investing in wine with this Ultimate Guide To Wine Investment.
- Also try some classic red wines like these Beautiful Malbecs, Exquisite Barberas, and Tuscany’s Signature Chianti Wines.
A Quick Intro to Domaine Leroy
Domaine Leroy is a boutique winery based in the Cote de Nuits wine region of Burgundy, France.
Behind the successful Domaine is Madame Lalou Bize Leroy, who founded the winery in 1988. She owns both Domaine d'Auvenay and Domaine Leroy. Lalou Bize also owns 25% of the famous Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Domaine Leroy is famous for its red Bourgogne wines, which amaze with their finesse and purity. The Domaine also produces small quantities of Chardonnay and Aligote wines.
The winery owner, Madame Bize Leroy, has established very strict biodynamic winemaking and viticulture rules. She has truly pushed the boundaries of Burgundy winemaking, which is reflected in the skyrocketing prices of her wines.
But what led to the formation of Domaine Leroy in the first place?
Also read: Find out how to Make the Most Delicious Mimosa or discover the Best Sangria Recipes.
A Brief History of Domaine Leroy
Francois Leroy was a winemaker who owned vineyard parcels in Auxey-Duresses, Chambertin, Clos Vougeot, Meursault, Pommard, and Richebourg. Francois sold his wines through an intermediary in Cote d’Or, but in 1868 he decided to establish his own Domaine - Maison Leroy.
When his son, Joseph Leroy, joined Maison Leroy, he expanded the Domaine business with distilled alcohol production.
Joseph’s son, Henri Leroy, who joined the family business in 1919, acquired 50% of the iconic Domaine Romanée Conti (DRC.)
DRC was owned by Jacques Chambon and his wife (sister of Henri’s friend Edmond de Villaine.) It was during the financial crisis in France that the Chambon family sold its DRC shares to Henri. In 1942, DRC became a property of Henri Leroy and de Villaine.
Henri’s daughter Lalou Bize Leroy joined the business in 1955 as a negociant. In 1966, she started organizing wine tasting events at Domaine Auvenay.
Madame Leroy became a managing co-director at Maison Leroy in 1971. She also managed DRC along with Aubert de Villaine from 1974 to 1992.
In 1980, when Henri Leroy passed away, Lalou Bize inherited the family’s Maison Leroy holdings.
In 1988 she purchased 21 hectares of vineyard parcels from Domaine Charles Noellat in Vosne-Romanee and Domaine Philippe Remy in Gevrey-Chambertin, which marked the founding of Domaine Leroy.
After she left DRC, Bize has focused on her own businesses - Domaine d’Auvenay, Domaine Leroy, and Maison Leroy.So, what distinguishes Domaine Leroy from other Burgundy wine producers?
The Golden Rules of Viticulture and Winemaking at Domaine Leroy
Lalou Bize managed to establish 100% biodynamic farming or biodynamic viticulture since the beginning of Domaine Leroy’s existence, and that has defined the wines’ unique and pure style.
Viticulture at Domaine Leroy
In viticulture, Domaine Leroy has established a few rules that are meticulously followed:
- Soil: The Domaine uses only organic manure-type of compost.
- Cultivation: The land is hand-tilled, while ridging is done with light-weight agriculture machines that preserve the soil.
- Vine replacement: The old vines are replaced one by one whenever needed. Lalou Bize never replaces whole parcels of vine plantings.
- Guyot pruning: The ancient vines are pruned between January and April under the constellations of Aries, Leo, and Saggitarius (and sometimes Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra.)
- Vine healing: Each cut is carefully painted with a biodynamics solution to ensure its fast recovery. Vines are not trimmed to avoid excess stress on the plantings.
- Vine health: Each vine is treated with different herbal and tea mixtures chosen based on the individual plant’s needs and the position of the sun, moon, and planets.
Further reading:
Want to add some sparkle to your next party? Check out our Top Champagne Picks for 2024, and don’t forget to serve them in style in the Best Champagne Glasses.
The Unique Winemaking Process of Domaine Leroy
Vinification is also performed with attention to every single detail:
- Harvesting: Only the best grapes are picked by hand from the vines.
- Sorting: Once harvested, the grapes are placed carefully on sorting tables, and only the healthiest fruits are selected.
- Fermentation: The fermentation process is lengthy. During fermentation, the grapes with their stems are gently placed in large wooden barrels. By preserving the fruits’ wholeness, the grape skins retain their natural yeasts, and the oxidation process is minimized.
- Maceration: During the slow maceration, the grape skins are pushed down (pigeage), and the grape juice is pumped from the bottom and splashed on top of the fermenting must (remontage.)
- Malolactic fermentation: Once pressed, the grapes go through malolactic fermentation in an underground cave.
- Aging: The juice is separated from the lees (using only gravity), and the wine is transported into new French oak barrels for 18 months.
Domaine Leroy has low yields of 15 ha/l and produces only around 600 cases of wine annually, making it one of the rarest Burgundies!
Domaine Leroy’s Crus
Domaine Leroy owns the following lands:
1. Grand Crus
- Corton Charlemagne
- Chambertin
- Romanée-Saint-Vivant
- Richebourg
- Clos de Vougeot
- Corton-Renardes
- Latricières-Chambertin
- Musigny
- Clos de la Roche
2. Premier Crus
- Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu
- Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts
- Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes
- Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots
- Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Vignerondes
- Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons
- Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes
3. Village Wine Classification
- Vosne-Romanée “Genevrières”
- Auxey-Duresses “Les Lavières”
- Chambolle Musigny “Les Fremières”
- Nuits Saint Georges “Bas de Combe”
- Nuits Saint Georges “Aux Allots”
- Nuits Saint Georges “Aux Lavières”
- Gevrey Chambertin
- Pommard “Les Vignots”
- Pommard “Les Trois Follots”
Also read:
Pair a glass of a Rich Chateauneuf du Pape with your dinner, or try some of the Most Exceptional Barbera d’Asti wines! Next, let’s take a look at the best Domaine Leroy wines.
Sumptuous Domaine Leroy Wines to Buy in 2024
We’ve picked the most enchanting Domaine Leroy wines, which you can buy in 2024.
1. Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 1999
This beautiful wine from the Grand Cru vineyard Chambolle Musigny has an elegant acidity and deep ruby-red color. The wine has intense cherry and raspberry tasting notes accompanied by subtle aromas of coconut and black truffle.
Price of Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 1999: $32,848
2. Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru 2013
This sensual Cru wine has stunning red cherry aromas and rustic character. The nose combines black fruit and leather aromas with a subtle minerality.
Price of Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru 2013: $14,758
3. Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011
Here we have a divine Domaine Leroy white Burgundy made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. The exquisite aroma of grapefruit, mango, and pineapple complements the delightful honey and mushroom notes.
Price of Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011: $6,017
4. Domaine Leroy Le Montrachet Grand Cru 1978
This is another beautiful and rare Cru Chardonnay with a warm golden hue and full-bodied character. It has distinct pear and peach flavors with a gentle floral aroma.
Price of Domaine Leroy Le Montrachet Grand Cru 1978: $4,192
5. Domaine Leroy Les Damodes Premier Cru 1998
This classic dry red Cru has a smooth texture and fine-grained tannins. On the palate, it has black fruit notes with an in-depth earthy aroma and great freshness at the end.
Price of Domaine Leroy Les Damodes Premier Cru 1998: $8,799
6. Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 2009
This young Pinot Noir Cru wine will reach maturity in several decades, so it’s perfect for storing it for an upcoming celebration. The wine is powerful yet light with amazing blackberry tasting notes, medium tannin levels, and a lingering earthy aroma finish.
Price of Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 2009: $8,168
7. Domaine Leroy Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2015
Here we have an elegant Cru with delicate floral aromas and bright acidity. It has black cherry and red fruit flavors that gradually transition into subtle truffle and mineral notes.
Price of Domaine Leroy Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2015: $9,417
8. Domaine Leroy La Romanee Grand Cru 1953
This mature Pinot Noir Cru has a smooth texture and rich flavor intensity. The exceptional cherry notes are complemented by rose petal aromas and a slight iron aftertaste.
Price of Domaine Leroy La Romanee Grand Cru 1953: $7,184
9. Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2000
The 2000 vintage of this elegant Domaine Leroy has dominant ripe cherry fruit flavors accompanied by sweet spice notes. The nose develops a swirl of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate aromas.
Price of Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2000: $8,559
10. Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru 2015
This fine wine brings out layers of different tasting notes - red fruit, black cherry, and strawberry. The subtle hints of smoke, leather, and spice bring out the wine’s unique terroir expression.
Price of Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru 2015: $6,621
Further reading:
- Looking for a floral pink wine? Try some of these Fabulous Rose Wines we picked for you.
- Try these Excellent Zinfandel Wines from the New World as well.
Investing in Domaine Leroy Wines
Domaine Leroy is a true investment-worthy gem - thanks to its scarcity, signature winemaking style, price appreciation, and outstanding reputation.
These red Burgundy wines (especially the Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines) also show great longevity and can age for decades. Some exceptional vintages can last up to 40-50 years.
Domaine Leroy prices increased by 40-50% twice - in 2014 and 2018, making it one of the world’s most expensive wines.
In 2017, at the New York Christie’s auction, 12 bottles of Domaine Leroy Corton Charlemagne 1996 sold for a whopping $34,300. At the same auction, another lot of 12 bottles Domaine Leroy Richebourg 1995 was sold for $36,750.
So, how can you get your hands on one of these highly sought-after wines?
Buy Domaine Leroy and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest
Vinovest is a leading wine investment company that offers you an easy way to source, store, and sell investment-grade wines like Chateau Lafite, Pouilly-Fuissé, and Pomerol wine.
How Does it Work?
To get started with Vinovest, you just have to:
- Sign up
- Fill out a short questionnaire to determine whether your investing style is conservative, aggressive, or balanced.
- Fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.
- Vinovest’s algorithm will use your answers to display the ideal investment wines for you.
- Sit back with a glass of Champagne cocktail like Kir Royal and watch your portfolio grow.
Benefits
Vinovest also comes with the following benefits:
1. Hassle-free Buying and Selling
With Vinovest’s AI-based platform, you can buy and sell wines from all over the world with just a few clicks.
2. Best Prices
Vinovest sources its wines directly from wine merchants, winemakers, and global wine exchanges, eliminating any retail markups - so you get some of the finest wines at the best possible prices.
3. Optimal Storage and Safety
Vinovest stores your wine bottles in humidity, light, vibration, air quality, and temperature-controlled chambers in bonded warehouses. All warehouses have 24/7 surveillance cameras and power back-up generators in case of power cuts.
4. Authenticity and Provenance
Vinovest’s wine expert team checks each bottle’s authenticity and traces its provenance before making your purchase. This way, you don’t have to worry about getting a counterfeit bottle ever again.
5. Curated Wine Portfolio
Vinovest’s Master Sommeliers will handpick a collection of fine wines that reflects your investment preferences.
6. Low Overall Costs
Vinovest charges one of the lowest fees in the wine investment industry - a 2.5% annual fee (or 1.9% if your portfolio exceeds $50,000.) This fee covers the buying, selling, and storing of your wines, as well as fraud detection and wine portfolio management.
Additionally, you’ll enjoy significant tax advantages because the bonded warehouses do not charge excess duty or VAT.
8. Global Network
Through Vinovest, you get access to private sales of wine companies, limited releases of wines, and upcoming vineyards. You can also join the Master Sommeliers’ wine tasting events of renowned vineyards and winemakers.
7. Easy Delivery
Do you want to ship a bottle of wine as a gift to a friend or a buyer? Or do you want to simply enjoy the bottle of Domaine Leroy’s Meursault you just bought?
Let Vinovest know where and when you want your wine delivered, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Domaine Leroy - A Burgundian Gem!
Domaine Leroy wines impress with their pure and divine character - true perfection in a bottle. Lalou Bize achieved this through decades of devotion to translating the terroir’s secrets into the wine in the most natural way possible.
The Domaine is famous for its microscopic production quantities - so, acquiring a bottle for yourself can be a real challenge!
Luckily, you can use a wine investment platform like Vinovest that’ll help you buy rare wines from all over the world - hassle-free. Just sign up on Vinovest and start building a winning wine portfolio!
