Benjamin Leroux

Benjamin Leroux is one of the new generation Burgundian winemakers who has made a big impression in a relatively short time. He worked as an apprentice at Comte Armand between 1990-92 while studying at the Lycee Viticole in Beaune, and then completed his oenology degree in Dijon, came to NZ and Oregon for experience before his first big job at Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux. ​ In 1998 he returned to Burgundy to work for Louis Jadot but soon after was offered the winemaking job at Comte Armand. making his first vintage in 1999. He developed his biodynamic ideals to the full and hasn't looked back. The Benjamin Leroux reputation has grown fast - he now shares the old winery of Jaboulet-Vercherre in Beaune with Nicolas Rossignol and with investors has purchased vineyards and established a negociant business and Maison Benjamin Leroux. All this while still making the wine at Comte Armand until recently where that Domaine is now under the control of Paul Zanetti (new winemaker). ​ Benjamin rents a small Monopole premier cru vineyard (0.6 hectare) in Volnay called Clos de le Caves, a small contribution to the 60,000 bottles the negociant business is already producing. The long-term plan will be to establish his own estate but in the meantime his winemaking prowess has already been established with wines of the highest quality.
The possibilities are very exciting for this exceptionally talented vigneron. Benjamin is a master at delivering purity of fruit alongside a seamless texture in his wines which have only the subtlest influence of oak. One of Benjamin’s favourite locations for white wine vineyards is the border between Auxey-Duresses and Meursault, which is where Les Vireuils can be found. Here the natural weight of Meursault is enhanced by the fresher minerality typical of the side valley of Auxey-Duresses.