Leroy : Côte de Beaune-Villages Village 2017

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

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a ruby-red colour with characteristic mauve highlights.

Nose
The nose is exuberant and complex, with red and black fruit aromas that are softer and deeper than those of the entry-level cuvées. Subtle smoky notes lend a savoury dimension to the aromatic profile.

Palate
On the palate, the wine elegantly combines freshness and density. The structure reveals an underlying power carried by fine, delicate tannins that bring lightness and refinement. The long finish lingers on crisp fruit flavours, offering both immediate approachability and promising ageing potential.

Food and wine pairing
This Côte de Beaune-Villages is a perfect match for traditional Burgundian dishes such as coq au vin, white meat in a creamy mushroom sauce, or œufs en meurette. It also pairs well with roast pork or beef, as well as with soft cheeses such as Soumaintrain or Morbier. Thanks to its balanced structure, it can also accompany more contemporary fare, such as lightly seared sesame tuna or wild mushroom dishes.

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

The estate
Founded in 1868 by François Leroy, Leroy is one of the most prestigious négociant houses in Burgundy. Based in Auxey-Duresses in the Côte de Beaune, the house is now run by Lalou Bize-Leroy, an iconic figure who has pioneered biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy since 1988. Owner of a 25% stake in Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Lalou Bize-Leroy has built an international reputation through her uncompromising commitment to quality and respect for living ecosystems. Maison Leroy carefully selects its wines from partner growers who share its demanding winegrowing philosophy.

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

The vintage
The 2017 vintage in Burgundy brought welcome relief after the climatic challenges of 2015 and 2016. Despite a late frost in mid-April, with temperatures falling as low as minus six degrees, the damage remained limited. A hot, dry summer then set in for the long term, with timely rainfall preventing water stress. The early harvest began in late August for the whites and in early September for the reds, in ideal dry conditions. Described as a sunny vintage, 2017 produced wines combining ripe fruit, freshness and finesse, with generous yields making it the largest harvest since 2009.

Winemaking and ageing
Maison Leroy's Côte de Beaune-Villages 2017 is crafted according to a philosophy of minimal intervention. The grapes are sorted twice by hand, first in the vineyard and then on arrival at the winery. The whole, undestemmed bunches are placed directly into wooden casks for spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. A long maceration ensures 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%)