Leroy : Beaune 1er cru "Les Montrevenots" 2018

Tasting characteristics and tips for Beaune 1er Cru "Les Montrevenots" 2018 from Domaine Leroy

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep, bright ruby red hue.

Nose

The nose unveils a rich, complex bouquet combining aromas of ripe red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, alongside subtle notes of vanilla and sweet spices. A delicate floral touch adds an extra dimension of elegance and refinement.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is generous and structured, with firm yet remarkably fine tannins that coat the palate without aggressiveness. Flavors of red fruits and spices linger with intensity, while a lively freshness brings balance and vibrancy. The finish is long and persistent, leaving slightly oaky and spicy impressions with a subtle mineral touch.

Food and wine pairing

This Beaune 1er Cru pairs perfectly with red meats and poultry prepared in the great French tradition. It is an ideal match for herb-crusted lamb chops, roast duck, or classic Burgundian dishes such as coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon. Aged soft cheeses such as Époisses also make a harmonious pairing.

Serving and aging

Beaune 1er Cru "Les Montrevenots" 2018 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 15-16°C. While it already offers immediate pleasure, this wine has excellent aging potential, allowing it to develop even greater complexity over the years.

A Beaune 1er Cru from Burgundy combining finesse and complexity by Domaine Leroy

The estate

François Leroy, owner of vineyards in Auxey-Duresses and Musigny among others, founded the Leroy wine merchant house in 1868. His son Joseph and, a few years later, his grandson Henri gradually developed the estate, notably by creating a branch dedicated to producing liqueurs and eaux-de-vie. In 1942, Henri Leroy acquired half of the prestigious Romanée-Conti terroir. Following his death, his younger daughter Lalou Bize-Leroy joined Domaine Leroy in 1955 and became co-manager of the domaine de la Romanée-Conti, alongside Aubert de Villaine, between 1974 and 1992.

The vineyard

The Climat Les Montrevenots is located at the southern end of the Beaune appellation, on the border with Pommard, on a high hillside rising to around 300 meters above sea level. This elevated position gives the vineyard optimal exposure and ideal ripening conditions. The soils are made up of clay-limestone marls rich in limestone and particularly stony, characteristics that encourage the production of wines combining finesse and structure. This terroir produces wines of great elegance, blending Beaune’s typical delicacy with remarkable concentration and complexity.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Bourgogne is considered exceptional, often compared to the great years 1990 and 1947. The season was marked by remarkable earliness, with budbreak and flowering well ahead of schedule. Summer brought hot, sunny conditions with very little rainfall, enabling optimal phenolic ripeness. Welcome rain at the end of August provided the vines with the hydration they needed ahead of harvest. The dry, warm conditions of September and early October made it possible to reach outstanding levels of ripeness, with perfectly healthy, concentrated grapes. This sunny, generous vintage produced wines of remarkable richness while retaining freshness and balance.

Winemaking and aging

Beaune 1er Cru "Les Montrevenots" 2018 is made according to the strict biodynamic principles of Domaine Leroy. The grapes undergo meticulous sorting, with separation of the stems and peduncles for precise control of tannic structure. Fermentation takes place in custom-made wooden vats using only indigenous yeasts, and temperatures can reach 33°C to maximize aromatic extraction. Aging is carried out exclusively in new French oak barrels from the François Frères cooperage. The wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling, thus preserving its integrity and authenticity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.