Domaine Leroy, Richebourg Grand Cru 2009

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Richebourg is breathtaking. Layers of dark fruit, spices, mint are some of the notes that flow from the glass. The Richebourg tannins are quite present, but the fruit has a nobility here that is simply unbelievable. This is a deep, penetrating wine that continues to blossom in the glass, showing tons of pedigree and class. The finish is beyond eternal. The Richebourg is a stand out in flight of extraordinary Burgundies. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. This was my first opportunity to taste the 2009s from Domaine Leroy in bottle. Lalou Bize-Leroy was among the first, if not the first, to bottle her 2009s, so she naturally wanted to give the wines some time to recover before showing them. The wines are stunning. Readers who have an opportunity to taste them should not hesitate. As always, the style is one of textural richness and depth, but the2009s appear to have excellent underlying material as well. The attention to every detail at the Domaine is quite evident in these thrilling wines. My visit ended with a sample of the 2010 Chambertin from barrel. Why not go straight to the top? If that wine is representative of the year, Leroy fans will have another superb vintage to look forward to, although yields will be lower than the already minuscule production. Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-040

vinous98

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Richebourg Grand Cru, which I had not tasted for 13 years, is instantly identifiable as that of Lalou Bize-Leroy on the nose. One can ask whether that is a good or bad thing. Don't you want to taste vineyard rather than the imprimatur of the winemaker? Still, the aromatics are attractive once quite a heavy reduction dissipates. But the oak never fully exits the room. The palate is medium-bodied with a core of sweet candied fruit, lightly spiced with a dash of white pepper. It meliorates in the glass and becomes glossy and extroverted. A lovely Pinot Noir, for sure, though it lacks a bit of personality and articulates more of the winemaker than the terroir. Tasted blind at the 2009 horizontal at Club 1243.