Leroy : Cote de Beaune-Villages Village 2017

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Côte de Beaune-Villages 2017 from Domaine Leroy

Tasting

Appearance
The color reveals a ruby red hue with characteristic purplish highlights.

Nose
The nose is exuberant and complex, expressing aromas of red and black fruits that are softer and deeper than those of entry-level cuvées. Subtle smoky notes add a savory dimension to the overall aromatic profile.

Palate
On the palate, the wine elegantly combines freshness and density. The structure reveals an underlying power supported by fine, delicate tannins that lend lightness and refinement. The finish lingers at length on crunchy fruit notes, offering both immediate approachability and attractive aging potential.

Food and wine pairings
This Côte de Beaune-Villages pairs perfectly with traditional Burgundian dishes such as coq au vin, white meats in cream and mushroom sauce, or œufs en meurette. It also matches well with pork or beef roasts, as well as soft cheeses such as Soumaintrain or Morbier. Its balanced structure also allows it to accompany more contemporary dishes such as lightly seared sesame-crusted tuna or wild mushroom-based dishes.

An elegant and concentrated Côte de Beaune-Villages from Maison Leroy

The estate
Founded in 1868 by François Leroy, Leroy is one of Burgundy’s most prestigious wine merchants. Based in Auxey-Duresses in the Côte de Beaune, the company is now led by Lalou Bize-Leroy, an iconic figure and a pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy since 1988. Holding a 25% stake in Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Lalou Bize-Leroy has built an international reputation thanks to her uncompromising commitment to quality and respect for living ecosystems. Maison Leroy rigorously selects its wines from partner growers who share its demanding winegrowing philosophy.

The vineyard
Côte de Beaune-Villages is an appellation created in 1937, reserved exclusively for red Pinot Noir wines. It covers around forty-five hectares spread across fourteen authorized communes in the Côte de Beaune, including Auxey-Duresses, Meursault, Monthélie, Saint-Romain, Santenay and Savigny-lès-Beaune. The vineyards benefit from varied soils composed of limestone, marl and red gravels depending on exposure and altitude. Gentler slopes than those of the Côte de Nuits and geology dating back to the Upper Jurassic give the wines their characteristic elegance and silky tannins.

The vintage
The 2017 vintage in Burgundy marks a year of relief after the climatic challenges of 2015 and 2016. Despite a late frost in mid-April, with temperatures dropping as low as minus six degrees, damage remained limited. The hot, dry summer settled in for the long haul, with timely rains preventing water stress. Early harvesting began at the end of August for whites and in early September for reds, in ideally dry conditions. Described as a sunny vintage, 2017 produced wines combining ripe fruit, freshness and finesse, with generous yields representing the largest harvest since 2009.

Winemaking and aging
The Côte de Beaune-Villages 2017 from Maison Leroy is made according to a philosophy of minimal intervention. The grapes undergo a double manual sorting, first in the vineyard and then upon arrival at the winery. Whole, unstemmed clusters are placed directly into wooden barrels for spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. A long maceration allows optimal extraction of aromatic and tannic compounds. After natural malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in cool underground cellars. All movements are carried out by gravity, and the wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling.

Grape variety
Pinot noir (100%)