Blog
The Golden Rule: Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligoté
When asked to name favorite producers in Burgundy or wines we crave the very most, there's a bit of a golden rule before answering: No Leroy! Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, the co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, is a larger than life figure. She's paved her very particular way since starting her own domaine in 1988. Her methods within the vines and in the cellar are met with reverence and a touch of bewilderment. Her wines break rules and truly transcend appellations. Today's offer includes two vintages of her iconic Aligoté, featuring the lowest price in the entire country.
Lalou had focused on her négociant label, Maison Leroy, for years before founding her own domaine. The Maison label still exists and is a great source for high quality wine throughout the Côte d'Or, but make no mistake about it, Domaine Leroy is an entirely different beast.
She adpoted biodymanic farming principles day one after purchasing Domaine Charles Noellat in 1988 and Domaine Philippe-Rémy in 1989. Lalou's demands and unyielding personality with regard to her own vines is something of a legend in Burgundy. There are small yields, overly-scrupulous vineyard managers, and then there is Madame Leroy.
Having worked alongside her rows in the Côte de Nuits I can tell you there are three things you notice immediately:
1. She keeps about half the amount of the clusters as the next most severe grower -often 4 clusters per vine, giving an average of 16 hectoliters per hectare.
2. Large sections of rows will be without vines as replanting is done carefully vine-by-vine using the most robust plant material from each respective vineyard. This magnifies the ripeness even more, as the amount of available energy within each vineyard is going to a more limited amount of vines.
3. Visually the most obvious, there is no hedging. This means long vertical shoots are tied in a circular fashion head high, à la Princess Leia.
So what is it that makes Domaine Leroy wines actually stand out in the glass? They carry a level of concentration that has no peer. The perfectionism adopted in the vineyard carries over to the cellar where, after two sorting tables, white grapes are pressed and aged in barrel without the use of pumps.
The whites of the domaine have that noble matchstick reductive element that only a handful of vignerons can perfect. Then double down with intensity and the added flash of gossamer texture and you have a pretty good picture. This reduction gives a fresh streak and unrelenting mineral grip that's the perfect counter to the high impact vintage Leroy ripeness.
Her old vine Aligoté is the perfect place to introduce yourself to the style of the domaine. At the lowest price in the country, today's offer from one of the most revered names in the world of wine is not to be missed!
2011 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligoté
$74 per bottle.
2013 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligoté
$74 per bottle.
Recent Articles
-
Nahe Shimmer: 2020 Emrich-Schönleber Riesling May 20, 2022
-
Queen of Chambolle: 2017 Barthod Aux Beaux Bruns May 19, 2022
-
Provence White Diamond: 2020 Chateau Roquefort May 18, 2022
-
Santa Cruz Pioneer: 2018 Ridge Estate Cabernet May 17, 2022
-
Langhe Smart Buy: 2019 Fratelli Alessandria Prinsiòt May 16, 2022
Tags
- 1.5
- 1.5l
- 1964
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1973
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1985
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 1er
- 1er cru
- 2000
- 2001
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 3L
- 4 Monos
- 6 pack
- 750
- 890
- 904
- abrossar
- Abruzzo
- al
- alain
- albarin
- Albarino
- albe
- Albillo
- Alex Foillard
- Alfredo Maestro
- alicante bouchet
- Aligote
- Allemand
- Alsace
- Alto Piemonte
- alzinger
- Amarone
- American Oak
- Amity
- amphore
- Anjou
- antle vineyard
- Antonio galloni
- arbois
- Arbois-Pupillin
- Argentina
- Arinto
- arnot roberts
- asili
- atalier
- atoine foucault
- Aubert de Villaine
- Auguste Clape
- auslese
- austria
- austrian
- Aux Malconsorts
- auxey duresses
- avize
- avni
- ayler
- baby margaux
- back vintage
- Baden
- Baga
- bairrada
- Bandol
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- barbera d'alba
- Barolo
- Barraida
- barrigards
- bartelemy
- Basque Country
- Basso
- bastardo
- Bates Ranch
- BB
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais-Villages
- beaune
- beauroy
- Beer
- Belgium
- Benanti
- benchmark
- benje tinto
- bernard
- Beru
- Bianco
- Bien Nacido
- bienvenues batard
- Bierzo
- bilbro
- bildstock
- Biodynamic
- biondi
- blanc
- blanc de blancs
- blanco
- blau
- Blot
- blue fruit
- Bockenauer
- boisson
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- Botti
- boudignon
- boudots
- boulay
- Bourgogne
- bourgogne blanc
- Bourgueil
- Bramaterra
- Branco
- bressandes
- bretonniere
- Breze
- brunate
- brunate-Le coste
- brune
- Brunello di Montalcino
- brut
- brut nature
- bruyeres
- bugundy
- bunker hill
- burguet
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- california
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- canneyt
- Cannonau
- cannubi
- cannubi (san lorenzo)
- cappuccio
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carinyena
- carmenere
- caroline morey
- Carricante
- Cascina
- Cascina Francia
- Cassis
- castell
- cava
- Caves San Joao
- celler
- ceps centenaires
- Cerasuolo
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- certified
- Chablis
- chache
- Chaillot
- chalk
- chambertin
- Chambeyron
- chambolle
- Chambolle Musigny
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champagne
- champange
- champans
- champs gains
- chapelle des bois
- Chardonnay
- chardoonay
- Charlemagne
- charlie trotter
- charlopin
- charpentrie
- charvin
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateau Thivin
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenas
- chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Cherbaudes
- chevalier montrachet
- chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christiane
- Christoph Schaefer
- Cider
- citrine
- Clairette
- Clape
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- clos de guichaux
- Clos de la Grand Coeur
- clos de la grand cour
- clos de la marchale
- Clos de la Rue
- clos des aigrots
- clos des chenes
- Clos des Ducs
- clos du bourg
- Clos du Chapitre
- clos du chateau des ducs
- clos du roy
- Clos du Verseuil
- CLos Prieur
- clos rougeard
- Clos Saint-Joseph
- clos st. jacques
- Clos Vougeot
- Club de Cosechadores
- co
- Coastal
- Colin
- collier
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Columbia Gorge
- Combe Aux Moines
- combottes
- Comtes Lafon
- conterno
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Cool Climate
- Coombsville
- Corison
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- cornu
- cortese
- corton
- corton-bressandes
- coste
- Cotat
- cote
- Cote Brune
- Cote d'Or
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- coteaux champenois
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes de Provence
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Crinquand
- crozes
- Crozes-Hermitage
- cru
- cry
- CS
- cuvee
- cuvee alexandrine
- cuvee reserve
- Cuvee Syrah
- Cuvee Tradition
- cuvee vigne alte
- d'alba
- D'Angerville
- Dagueneau
- Dauvissat
- dd
- de
- De Montille
- de valtuille
- del
- dessus
- dexter
- Dijon
- Dogliani
- Dolcetto
- Dolomites
- domaine
- Domaine Chave
- Domaine de la Cadette
- Domaine du Bagnol
- domestic
- dominik Huber
- dominique
- Domprobst
- double magnum
- dry
- Dry Riesling
- duc des nauves
- Dujac
- dutraive
- east block
- Ecueil
- edmond
- Eichberg
- el rapolao
- electric
- emilien
- En Champans
- En Combe Roy
- encinas
- enfield
- enfield wine co
- Eola
- Eola-Amity Hills
- eric
- Eric Asimov
- estate
- Etna
- extra brut
- fass 12
- fass 7
- faviken
- fellom ranch
- Felseneck
- Female Winemaker
- Fiano
- Fixin
- Fleurie
- Fontanasanta
- food tread
- for ross-seaview
- Foradori
- forest
- forets
- fossati
- fourrier
- fox hill
- France
- francesco
- Francia
- Francomar
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- frederic
- Freisa
- French Alps
- fresh
- freu
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Frohlich
- Fronholz
- fruity
- Fuoripista
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Genevrieres
- gerard
- German
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- geyserville
- GG
- Ghemme
- Giacomo
- Gigondas
- Gilles
- giulia
- giuseppe
- Glou Glou
- gnemiz
- godello
- gold standard
- Goldkapsel
- Goulots
- Gour de Chaule
- Graach
- gran reserva
- Granato
- grance
- Grand Cru
- Granite Terroir
- graviers
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- greves
- Grille midi
- griotte
- Griotte Chambertin
- grolleau
- Grosjean
- Grosses Gewachs
- Grotte Alte
- Grower Champagne
- gruenchers
- gruner veltliner
- gruyaches
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- hajo
- halbtrocken
- Haro
- haut
- haut medoc
- haute-cotes de beaune
- Hautes cote de nuits
- hayne vineyard
- haynes
- haynes chardonnay
- hectare
- henri jayer
- hermitage
- Hermitage Blanc
- Hermtage
- heron lake
- Hills
- himmelreich
- hope well
- Hubacker
- hubert
- huet
- IGT
- indiana jones
- italian
- Italy
- Jacky
- jacques
- jean luc
- jean-marie
- jeroboam
- jewel
- joao
- john lockwood
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- Jura
- kabinett
- Kallstadter
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- Kimmeridgian Soil
- king
- kings vineyard
- kirschenmann
- Klaus Peter Keller
- koehler
- koehler-ruprecht
- Kronos Vineyard
- kupp
- kye
- l'esprit
- l'etonnat monsieur victor
- l;ultime
- La Bidode
- La Charme Aux Pretes
- la charmes aux pretres
- La Chatelaine
- la claudrina
- la del vivo
- la fresnaye
- la Geynale
- La guiraude
- la madonne
- La Rioja Alta
- la ripaille
- la taille aux loups
- la vitoriana
- lafarge
- Lambic
- langhe
- Languedoc
- Late Release
- Lavaux Saint Jacques
- le chapitre
- le clos
- le coste
- le haut-lieu
- le mesnil
- le mont
- Le Pied de la Rue
- le poutet
- le pur
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- les arboises
- Les Arvelets
- Les Barrigards
- les beaux regards
- les caillerets
- Les Cazetiers
- les champs canet
- les champs perdrix
- Les Chapaudaises
- les chaumees
- les chevalieres
- Les Crais
- les cran
- Les Fuees
- Les Grandes Places
- Les Grands Epenots
- les longeroies
- Les macherelles
- les manyes
- Les Minots
- Les Mitans
- les monts fournois
- les motelles
- les moulins
- Les Pallieres
- Les petits Vougeots
- les peyrouses
- Les Pezerolles
- Les Riceys
- les rieux
- Les Rugiens
- Les Rugiens-Bas
- Les Sentiers
- Les Suchots
- Les Taillepieds
- les tosses
- Lessona
- library
- Lieu Dit en Papolet
- lieu-dit
- Limestone
- limit
- lisbon
- little hill
- little hillwest block
- loibner
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Louis/Dressner
- low sulphur
- lust
- lytton springs
- Macabeau
- Macon
- Madrid
- magic
- Magma
- magnum
- mailloche
- malbec
- Malvasia
- Manzoni Bianco
- Marc Roy
- margaux
- marl
- marsannay
- marsanne rousanne
- martinenga
- Mascarello
- Mazis-Chambertin
- McKinlay
- mead ranch
- Mediterranean
- medoc
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- mencia
- mendocino
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Mersault
- mes favorites
- Meursault
- michel lafarge
- mimis mind
- mind bending
- mix pack
- moccagatta
- monfortino
- monopole
- Mont Blanc
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Monte bello
- montee de tonnere
- Montee de Tonnerre
- Montefalco
- montefico
- Montepulciano
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- montmains
- montrachet
- monttrachet
- morey
- Morey Saint Denis
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- moulin de tricot
- mount eden
- mountains
- Mourvedre
- Muenchberg
- mugnier
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- musigny
- musingy
- Nahe
- napa
- Napa Valley
- Naples
- narvaux
- native yeast
- natur
- Natural Wine
- Neal Martin
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero d'Avola
- Nero di Lupo
- New California
- New York Times
- no additives
- No Sulfur
- non-vintage
- north coast
- Northen Rhone
- northern California
- Northern Rhone
- Nosiola
- nouvelle R
- Nuits
- nuits saint george
- nuits saint georges
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- NV
- Oak Knoll District
- oberberg
- Occhipinti
- off dry
- oger
- Old School
- old vine
- Old Vines
- Old World
- Orange
- Oregon
- organic
- Ostertag
- oubilee
- outis
- outlier
- Overnoy
- PA
- Pardas
- paso robles
- Passetoutgrain
- Patagonia
- patchwork
- Patrick Baudouin
- pearl
- Peñafiel
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- pernand vergelesses
- Perrieres
- peter martin ray
- petillant
- petit verdot
- Petite Arvine
- petite syrah
- Peyrouses
- Pezerolles
- Pfalz
- Pfersigberg
- pian del ciampolo
- pie
- Piedmont
- piedmontese
- pierre
- pierre gonon
- Pietra Marina
- pigs stomach
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Grigio
- pinot gris
- pinot meunier
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Ploussard
- Poco do Lobo
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- porto
- Portugal
- poruzots
- poruzots-dessus
- Poulsard
- premier
- premier cru
- premier cry
- pretty horses
- priorat
- Produttori
- produttori del barbaresco
- Provence
- PT
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- pycm
- QBA
- qualitatswein
- R
- rabaja
- Rajat Parr
- raul perez
- ravera
- red
- red blend
- reduction
- reflet d'Antan
- Regnie
- reiserva speciale
- remensis rose
- remi jobard
- Renaissance
- reserva
- reserve
- rheinberg
- rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- Ribolla Gialla
- Ridge
- ried
- Riesling
- right bank
- Rioja
- riserva
- Robert michel
- Roccalini
- rodchen
- romanee
- ronco
- rosae
- Rose
- rose-marie
- rosso
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roussillon
- RR
- rubicon
- ruprecht
- russian river
- ruwer
- Ruwer Valley
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- saint
- Saint Amour
- Saint Aubin
- saint emilion
- Saint Esteph
- saint jacques
- saint joseph
- Saint-Aubin
- Saint-Joseph
- San Fereolo
- san lorenzo
- San Zuan
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- sans soufre
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Rita Hills
- santenay
- Sardinia
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumaged
- saumagen
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- savagnin
- Savoie
- Schafer
- Schäfer-Fröhlich
- Schoenfels
- sec
- sekt
- senior
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Sgarzon
- Siccagno
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Sigaut
- singular
- singulier
- sisters
- sitges
- Skin Contact
- Skin Fermented White
- Slate
- small production
- smaragd
- sol
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Sour Beer
- sous fretille
- sous la tour
- Southern France
- Southern Rhone
- SP68
- Spain
- sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- spatlese
- spicy
- st. amour
- st. helena
- Sta. Rita Hills
- stater west
- steinertal
- stems
- strawberry
- summer of riesling
- Super Tuscan
- Superiore
- supernova
- sweetwater
- sylvain pataiile
- Sylvain Pataille
- Syrah
- Taille aux loups
- Taillepieds
- tegan passalacqua
- tegernseerhof
- temple of doom
- tempranillo
- Teroldego
- Terrasse du Diable
- Terroir
- Tesson
- Thanksgiving
- The New Spain
- the plow
- thibaud
- thomas savre
- three corner
- thunder mountain
- tinto
- tintorera
- tissier
- tocai
- Torrette
- torroja
- toscana
- Touriga Nacional
- tre tine
- Trebbiano
- Trentino
- tribut
- triennes
- trocken
- trois cepage
- trousseau
- tuffeau
- turley
- Tuscany
- ulteria
- Umbria
- UNESCO
- unicorn tears
- USA
- VA
- vacheron
- vadot
- Vaillons
- vajra
- val
- Vallee d'Aoste
- valmur
- Valpolicella
- Value
- Vare Vineyrad
- Vatan
- vdf
- Veneto
- venezia
- Verduno
- vergers
- Vermentino
- Vermouth
- Verzy
- vezelay
- vi
- Vieilles Vignes
- vielles vignes
- Vigne Rovettaz
- village
- Villages
- villet
- vin de france
- Vina Ardanza
- Vina Ardanza Late Release
- vineyard
- Vinous
- Viognier
- violet
- Volnay
- volnay vendanges selectionnees
- vosne
- Vosne Romanee
- Vosne-Romanee
- Vougeot
- Vouvray
- wachau
- walkenberg
- waterhorse ridge
- Watson Ranch Chardonnay
- weiss
- west block
- white
- White Burgundy
- Whole Cluster
- Willamette
- Willamette Valley
- Willi Schaefer
- wine
- wine advocate
- World Heritage Site
- Xarello
- yann
- young
- yves
- Zellberg
- Zero Sulfur
- Zev Rovine
- Zinfandel