Domaine Leroy   Richebourg Grand Cru

2007 Richebourg Grand Cru

By Domaine Leroy

2007 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France

The 2007 vintage in the revered winemaking region of Burgundy was marked by early promise tempered by meteorological challenges. It was a season that tested the mettle of viticulturists and winemakers alike, a challenge impeccably navigated by Domaine Leroy with their Richebourg Grand Cru.

 

A Symphony of Nuances: The 2007 Challenge

Despite an erratic growing season, with its early blossoming potentially thwarted by frosts and a cool August delaying ripening, the dynamic bio-dynamism of Domaine Leroy has yielded a 2007 Richebourg Grand Cru of startling complexity and finesse. One could argue that it is precisely this climatic variation that suffuses the 2007 silhouettes with an inimitable character.

 

A Tapestry of Earthy Delights

This vintage reveals its pedigree through a tantalising array of scents: wild berries blend seamlessly with undertones of damp earth and delicate spices. On the palate, one is greeted by harmonious layers—ripe cherries and blackcurrants dance alongside nuances of truffles and licorice, a testament to Domaine Leroy’s mastery in preserving the unique traits imparted by the terroir.

The 2007 Richebourg Grand Cru strikes a fine balance between strength and grace – it exhibits the tenacity required to age gloriously while maintaining an inviting opulence that delights currently. The tannins are present yet unobtrusive, setting the stage for long-term cellaring potential that astute investors would do well to consider.

In conclusion, this particular vintage stands as an intricately woven narrative of its diverse growing season—a story within each bottle. As one contemplates this engaging quest from vine to glass, it becomes evident that the 2007 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy deserves its positioning amongst the paramount wine investment selections.

Market price (HKD)

HK$863,170.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

6450

Scores and tasting notes

94

Its forward, succulent sweetness of red raspberry and purple plum fruit accompanied by blond tobacco and smoked meat set Leroy’s 2007 Richebourg apart from its Romanee-St.-Vivant sibling, whose utterly contrasting personality may convey more alluring mystery and complexity, but cannot compete with the sheer sappy concentration and particular energy and exuberance on display. There is a meaty savor, smoky tang, and brightness of berry fruit that truly stains the palate. I expect this is another Leroy wine that will defy its vintage by retaining stamina for two or more decades, and in the process will almost certainly reveal further facets. 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

Vintage performance