2009 Benjamin Leroux Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru

The 2009 Clos St. Denis is majestic. Layers of fruit emerge as this explosive wine captivates all of the senses. Elegance and power come together with rare pedigree in this Clos St. Denis. Despite its finesse, there is more than enough underlying structure to suggest the wine is built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. Benjamin Leroux is one of Burgundy’s most promising young winemakers. Leroux is best known for the wines he makes at Comte Armand, one of the reference-point properties in the Cote de Beaune. Since 2007 Leroux has made wines under his own label using a micro-negociant model that has become increasingly popular in Burgundy. Leroux sources fruit from some of Burgundy’s top sites and bottles an eye-popping 27 different wines, most in 2-3 barrel lots. I also tasted a number of 2009 whites in addition to these 2009 reds. Readers will find those notes on www.erobertparker.com. The whites are aged in 300-liter barrels. Leroux goes for a tight, mineral-driven style, with no stirring of the lees. Leroux’s passion, ambition and sheer talent have already resulted in a number of stunning, beautiful wines, but my sense is that the best is yet to come. A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, imported by Veritas Imports, Beverly Hills, CA; tel. (310) 205-3803, C’Est Vin, District of Columbia; tel. (703) 243-3559, Scott Paul Wines, Oregon; tel. (503) 852-7300, Wines Unlimited, Louisiana; tel. (504) 897-0191