2012 Domaine Leroy, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Brulees 3x75cl

The Philosophy of Domaine Leroy

“We are guardians. We watch, we observe, we make some decisions, but it is the grapes that come first–they guide us.” This is the motto of Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, the owner and visionary of Domaine Leroy, one of the most revered and influential wine estates in Burgundy. For her, winemaking is not a human intervention, but a natural expression of the vines and the terroir.

She practices biodynamic viticulture, which respects the cycles of nature and the cosmic forces, and aims to create a harmonious balance between the soil, the plants, and the animals. She also limits the yields to the minimum, sometimes as low as 10 hectoliters per hectare, to ensure the highest concentration and quality of the grapes. She harvests by hand, uses whole clusters, ferments with indigenous yeasts, and ages the wines in new oak barrels with minimal racking and fining. Her wines are the epitome of purity, elegance, and complexity, reflecting the true character of each vineyard and vintage.

The History of Domaine Leroy

Domaine Leroy traces its roots back to 1868, when François Leroy founded Maison Leroy, a négociant business that sourced and sold wines from various producers in Burgundy. His son Henri joined the business in 1919 and expanded its portfolio and reputation, becoming a partner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in 1942. His daughter Lalou started working at Maison Leroy in 1955 and became the co-manager of DRC in 1974, where she worked closely with Aubert de Villaine until 1992. In 1988, she established Domaine Leroy with the purchase of Domaine Charles Noëllat in Vosne-Romanée and Domaine Philippe Remy in Gevrey-Chambertin, and later acquired more vineyards in the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune.

Today, the domaine owns 23 hectares of vines, mostly Premier Cru and Grand Cru classified, and produces some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world. The domaine is now run by the second generation of the Bize-Leroy family, who continue to uphold the legacy and excellence of their mother.