2020 Benjamin Leroux Saint-Romain Sous Le Château

The estate of Benjamin Leroux in Beaune

Benjamin Leroux is one of Burgundy's most respected modern winemakers. After years of managing the wines of Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard, he established his own estate in Beaune. His style combines Burgundian tradition with an exceptionally precise approach to vinification and terroir. Leroux works with a wide variety of plots across the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, resulting in a wide range of wines that always share the same goal: purity, precision, and respect for the provenance.

He is known for his careful harvesting, gentle extraction, and the use of temperature control to enhance elegance. His portfolio includes villages, premiers crus, and grands crus. Each plot receives a tailored approach, with minimal intervention to preserve the grape's natural expression. The result is wines with tension, depth, and a clear terroir identity. The Cuvée Saint-Romain Sous Le Château is a compelling example of this.

The characterful terroir of Saint-Romain

Saint-Romain is one of the cooler, higher-altitude appellations of the Côte de Beaune. The vineyards are situated on steep slopes on the edge of the limestone massif above Meursault and Auxey-Duresses. The higher elevation creates a cooler microclimate, resulting in wines with crisp acidity, tension, and a slightly mineral structure. In warmer years, such as 2020, the wines benefit even more from this cool location, combining ripeness with a vibrant character.

The soil consists primarily of limestone and marl, with occasional clay. This subsoil creates tension and verticality in the wine. Saint-Romain wines are generally known for their elegant structure, bright aromas, and subtle minerality. Sous Le Château, situated on a slope below the ancient ruins of a medieval castle, is a parcel that adds extra finesse and tension to the wines.

The grape chardonnay in Sous Le Château 2020

Saint-Romain is planted with both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Sous Le Château is one of the parcels where Chardonnay truly flourishes. The grape benefits from the cool location and chalky soils, resulting in wines with bright citrus fruit, fine structure, and mineral undertones. Chardonnay in this part of Burgundy develops a style that is lighter and more focused than in villages like Meursault, but this is precisely what makes these wines beloved by connoisseurs.

The 2020 vintage yielded ripe and healthy grapes. Thanks to the climatic conditions, the aromas were able to fully develop without losing freshness. Consequently, the wine has a combination of ripe fruit, tension, and refinement typical of strong vintages.

Vinification and maturation of the 2020

For this cuvée, Benjamin Leroux uses a precision approach. The grapes are harvested by hand to ensure the integrity of the fruit. Using a cold room, the grapes are cooled to below thirteen degrees Celsius, allowing controlled and gradual fermentation to begin. This method preserves aromatic purity and gives the wine its characteristic tension.

Fermentation takes place in oak and stainless steel barrels, depending on the batch, with the maturation tailored to the desired profile of tension and finesse. Leroux primarily uses 500-liter barrels for subtle oak influences. Maturation typically lasts a year, after which the wine is bottled without overpowering oak notes. The result is a wine that revolves around purity, structure, and finesse.

Color, aroma and taste of Saint-Romain Sous Le Château 2020

The wine has a clear, light golden yellow color. On the nose, it reveals fresh aromas of citrus, ripe apple, and white flowers. Subtle mineral notes, typical of the Saint-Romain terroir, are also present. A light spiciness from the wood enhances the aromatic complexity without weighing the wine down.

On the palate, the wine has an energetic character. The acidity is lively yet beautifully integrated. The midpalate is taut and refined, with subtle depth. The wine displays both tension and ripe fruit, with a finish that is slightly salty and mineral. Sous Le Château 2020 is a cuvée that charms in its youth, yet also has sufficient structure to further develop in the coming years.

Would you like to order Benjamin Leroux wines online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read full wine reviews from publications like Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator.

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Wine and food pairings

• Grilled sea bass with lemon and fresh herbs. The freshness of the wine perfectly complements the delicate flavors of the fish.
• Supreme chicken with creamy mushroom sauce. The creaminess enhances the wine's tension and mineral notes.
• Pasta with lemon cream sauce and green asparagus. The citrus notes harmonize with the lively acidity of the cuvée.
• Veal medallions with a light white wine sauce. The tender texture of the meat complements the elegant texture.
• Risotto with fennel and Parmesan. The light anise notes add finesse and emphasize the mineral finish.