2007 Vosne les Beaux Monts
By Domaine Leroy
2007 Vosne les Beaux Monts from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of Burgundian excellence, few names resound with the reverence accorded to Domaine Leroy. It is here, within the hallowed vines of Vosne-Romanée, that the 2007 Vosne les Beaux Monts finds its genesis—a testament to the exemplary stewardship of Lalou Bize-Leroy and the climatic alchemy of 2007. An enigmatic year, 2007 was marked by an early start and a summation of warmth and precipitation that coalesced into a vintage of serendipitous balance.
Decoding the Distinction: Terroir's Influence
The terroir of Les Beaux Monts exudes a certain magnetism, often attributed to its iron-rich soils and elevated position just above renowned grand crus. This distinction seeps into the very essence of the 2007 harvest, with an aerial finesse that defies the weightier expectations of this warm year. The nurturing hands at Domaine Leroy have expertly captured this nuance, reflecting in a wine woven with threads of complexity and precision.
A Vintage’s Tale: Aesthetic Meets Investment
Among fine wine investors, the allure of a well-aged Burgundy is undeniable. The 2007 vintage presents a singular investment opportunity; it reflects not only Vosne-Romanée's noble lineage but also the idiosyncratic weather patterns that positioned 2007 as an underdog amongst its peers. What emerged from this vintage was a profound expression: cherries and plums reaching their zenith amidst whispers of clove and allspice, all cradled in a structure that promises longevity.
The bouquet still trumpets its multifaceted perfume—dark fruits interlacing with an earthy undertone, while violets and incense add ornate flourishes. On the palate, one uncovers elegance personified; tannins have evolved into silken threads framing the opulent fruit core. This poised balance between potency and grace positions the 2007 Vosne les Beaux Monts as an astute acquisition for connoisseurs and investors alike.
In summary, I fondly regard the 2007 Vosne les Beaux Monts from Domaine Leroy as an embodiment of Burgundian majesty. Held aloft by the defining characteristics of an unpredictable year, it proffers not merely a tasting experience but a sippable anthology of resilience—the wine's narrative coursing from guarded anticipation to triumphant revelation. An enduring echo of sophistication for palates and portfolios alike.
Current market price
£41,580.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
3198.46
Scores and tasting notes
Leroy’s 2007 Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts epitomizes the mysteriously saline, crustacean, moss, and humus-like savor of which this site is capable, accompanied by violet and elder flower perfume, ripe cassis and raspberry fruit, and subtle, nobly fungal notes. Velvety in texture yet possessed of uncanny lift and a core of sheer refreshment, this preserves the effusive personality that many 2007s exhibited early on in cask, but few deliver today in bottle. But scarcely any youthful 2007s ever pretended to this level of complexity, detail, or depth of flavor. I would relish following it for at least 15 years. The results Lalou Bize-Leroy achieved in 2006 – as I wrote in my previous red Burgundy report – were especially notable considering the misgivings she expressed early on about that vintage. She appeared more enthusiastic early on about 2007, but in this instance it’s far from merely notable – frankly, it’s utterly improbable – the richness and complexity that the Leroy team has achieved, especially considering that harvesting began here already on August 27! This collection is quite distinctive even from the very few others of its vintage that come even remotely close in quality. These 2007s display a sense of effortless effusiveness, primary juiciness, and – I don’t know how to put this less nebulously – elegance and in the best instances transparency, contrasting with the impressions of tumescent ripeness, coagulation, and new wood veneer that in some vintages accompany the profound richness of Leroy reds. As usual, the wines were all bottled in December, which at least in this vintage seems less difficult to reconcile with their exceptional quality than it does in vintages like 2005 or 2008, when so many of the other top practitioners of red Burgundy emphasize the need for longer elevage. Extremely low yields are of course also a common denominator among Bize-Leroy’s collections, although in the challenging 2007 vintage, she had somewhat more company than usual among fellow-vignerons in the roughly 20 hectoliter-per-hectare range. (And that was bounteous compared with the 13 hectoliters per hectare Bize-Leroy reports having managed in 2008, a vintage from which she did not want to show her bottled wines until June of this year, so that I shall publish notes on them in my follow-up to the present report.) Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2010