Domaine Leroy   Vosne les Beaux Monts

2012 Vosne les Beaux Monts

By Domaine Leroy

2012 Vosne les Beaux Monts from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France

The 2012 vintage in Burgundy stood as a testament to the resilience of its vineyards and the skill of its vintners. Amid some haphazard weather patterns, which initially stoked trepidation among the wine-growing fraternity, Domaine Leroy flourished, producing a truly distinguished Vosne les Beaux Monts.

 

A Vintage Defined by Overcoming Adversity

The season's trials included erratic spring frosts followed by intermittent summer hailstorms; a climatic assault that laid the foundation for diminished yields. Yet it is precisely this reduction in grape volume that accentuated the concentration and intensity of the wines that prevailed. 2012 Vosne les Beaux Monts from Domaine Leroy encapsulates this phenomenon impeccably—a harmonious balance between adversity and artistry.

 

Complexity and Character

This wine's aromatic profile is richly layered, with red fruits intermingling with exotic spice nuances and a touch of earthiness beckoning from within. On the palate, it furthers this complex narrative, delivering a structured yet elegant embodiment of pinot noir. The tannins are both silky and assertive, indicative of a wine with promising longevity, suggesting immense potential for fine wine investors.

There's an undeniable vibrancy to the 2012 Vosne les Beaux Monts from Domaine Leroy—a vivacious energy that courses through its refined body. That said, it remains true to the subtleties expected from such prestigious terroir and producer; a hallmark of Domaine Leroy's unwavering commitment to quality amidst the unpredictable whims of nature.

As it matures, the 2012 Vosne les Beaux Monts will no doubt unfold further layers of complexity, beckoning to connoisseurs and investors alike. Bearing in mind its formidable structure and grace under fire—so to speak—the discerning collector would be sagacious to appraise its value not solely on its present merits but on its considerable future promise.

 

Conclusion: A Cherished Collectable

The 2012 vintage from Burgundy may be remembered for its hurdles, yet wines like the Vosne les Beaux Monts stand as odes to the triumphs over these challenges. This offering from Domaine Leroy presents an opportunity not only for enjoyment but also as a strategic addition to any sophisticated investment portfolio. Its singular composition, reflective of an exceptional year and esteemed provenance, ensures that it stands out as one of the most compelling wines of its era.

Market price (HKD)

HK$490,970.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

3210

Scores and tasting notes

95-97

The 2012 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts demonstrated more reduction than the Aux Brulees at the time of tasting. The palate is very precise with fine tannins, feeling tensile in the mouth, with red pastilles and a touch of lemongrass on the precise, feminine finish. Lalou Bize-Leroy’s domaine wines are not the easiest to procure, but given that in 2012 the average rendement was a paltry 9hl/ha then I am envisaging a few lively “discussions” on the touchy subject of allocations. Lalou, suffering the sniffles when I visited but as energetic as always, was ecstatic about her 2012s, regaling them for their mineralite and terroir expression. She started picking on 17 September, a little earlier than others, and told me that the malo-lactics were a little tardier than usual because of the fresh acidity levels. Certainly some of the samples demonstrated a lot of reduction, more than Lalou was care to admit, but peering through them, there really were some quite astonishing wines in her midst. I speculate that the better Lalou’s wines, the more excited her two dogs behave during the tasting, and our two hour degustation was interspersed by manic tail wagging, the occasion tussle and one growling stand-off at the precise moment I had her magisterial Musigny in my glass. The journey through the grand crus was exhilarating, each suffused with untrammeled energy and tension, more expressive of their terroirs than the 2011s that I tasted back in July. There is a part of me that wants to by cynical given the stratospheric prices demanded, as if to say to Lalou: “Prove it.” And that’s the thing – they go ahead and prove that these are some of the finest Pinot Noirs produced on Earth. Readers should not that Lalou invited me to taste her 2012s either from barrel or later in bottle, whichever I prefer but not both due to miniscule quantities that are often just a single barrel, a position I completely respect and support. I would have chose the latter if I was being selfish, but the former to offer some guidance and some juxtaposition with other vignerons. Also, I did not taste the wines from Domaine d’Auvenay simply because the quantities are so depleted in 2012. Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-040 and through Justerini & Brooks (UK)

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 December 2013

Vintage performance