Domaine Leroy Aligote 2016

The Leroy name is a key pillar of the Burgundian wine scene and a leading light in the Côte d’Or, with three main strands: Domaine Leroy, Maison Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay (a small, biodynamically farmed Domaine founded by Lalou in 1988).

In 1988, recognising the trend towards domaine bottling in Burgundy, Lalou Bize-Leroy purchased what would become Domaine Leroy: an estate situated in Vosne-Romanée (previously known by the name Domaine Noëllat). Domaine Leroy labelled wines are thus are produced from parcels of grapes grown on the 22ha of domaine-owned Côte d’Or vineyards, which span nine different Grand Crus. These wines are produced biodynamically and at extremely low yields, resulting in superbly concentrated expressions of the Burgundian terroir.

Many people think of white Burgundy as being purely Chardonnay-based. While Chardonnay may be the most famous white varietal in Burgundy, there is another: Aligoté. Recorded in Burgundy in the 1700s, Aligoté was once widely planted, but almost died out in the early 20th century after the 19th century phylloxera epidemic wiped out most of the vineyards. However, it’s undergoing a renaissance in the 21st century. Aubert DeVillaine, proprietor of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti believes so fervently in this grape that he fought for (and won) an all-Aligoté appellation in Bouzeron.