2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres
By Domaine Leroy
2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France
The 2011 vintage in Burgundy is often heralded for its approachability and charm, producing wines that have been quietly whispering the secrets of their terroir. Amid such a vintage emerges the 2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres from Domaine Leroy, a wine of subtle complexities and nuances that demand attention.
A Vintage That Speaks in Whispers
Burgundy enthusiasts understand the importance of alignment between vine, vintner, and vintage. The 2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres exemplifies this harmony with aplomb. The growing season was marked by oscillation between warm and cool periods, providing just enough stress to the vines to coax out the deep-rooted character of Vosne-Romanée's revered soil.
In a landscape where every microclimate imparts a distinctive fingerprint upon its produce, Domaine Leroy's mastery of organic and biodynamic practices shines through in this vintage. This care is palpable in each glass, where the purity of pinot noir is not obscured but rather enhanced by the climatic challenges of the year.
Bouquet and Palate: A Delicate Dance
The bouquet of the 2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres is an intricate lacework of red fruits entwined with gentle whispers of spice and earth—a fitting tribute to Vosne-Romanée's prestige. On the palate, there's an elegance and finesse that contradicts the power one might anticipate; yet this is a wine with strength held in reserve, its tannins finely woven into the silky texture of aged velveteen.
For fine wine investors seeking out a Burgundy that offers both an exquisite drinking experience and a compelling narrative for their portfolios, this offering from Domaine Leroy strikes with precision. Its potential longevity is suggested by its graceful aging thus far and promises more secrets to be unveiled in the years to come.
Collectability and Investment Potential
The investment allure of Domaine Leroy's oeuvre needs little declaration but suffice it to say, with the storied provenance of Vosne-Romanée instilled in every bottle, the 2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres holds promise not only for sensory delight but also as an anchor piece in any well-curated investment collection.
As you consider the prospects for growth within your portfolio, consider how this vintage, with its poised expression of a variable climate and Domaine Leroy's viticultural artistry, speaks volumes beyond its whispers for those attuned to its voice.
A Burgundian tapestry interwoven with poise and potential—this is what makes 2011 Vosne les Genaivrieres from Domaine Leroy one to savor, cherish, and yes, invest in with confidence.
Market price (HKD)
HK$475,746.45
12x75cl
Highest score
89
POP score
5530
Scores and tasting notes
The 2011 Vosne-Romanee Les Genaivrieres, which lies in close proximity to Lalou’s maison in Vosne, shows a touch of reduction on the nose with primal red rather than black fruit. It comes across as a little conservative after the wonderful Nuits 2011s. The palate is silky smooth on the entry, very refined with supple, lithe tannins. There are plenty of pure dark cherry and raspberry preserve notes to enjoy with a sedate, comfy finish that has a lovely caressing texture. Since I started visiting chateaux and growers in 1997, I have been fortunate to have ticked off most of my personal Holy Grails, yet a handful remain. One was to visit Domaine Leroy and taste with Lalou Bize-Leroy, who I have only met briefly on two occasions in London. Given the responsibility of covering Burgundy, I avowed to tick that one off as soon as possible. So, on a sultry Thursday morning, I finally pulled into the pebbled courtyard of her winery in the village of Vosne with maybe just a single butterfly fluttering around inside. Lalou was stepping out of her 4x4, beloved dogs yapping around their mother and perhaps warning her of an intruder in their midst. They are not exactly cut out to be guard dogs – no offence intended. Lalou was exactly how I remembered – with her wiry frame, like a titanium alloyed twig. Her piercing hawk-like blue eyes and angular cheekbones would give Kate Moss a run for her money. She was attired like a fashionable thirty-something and exuded the vivacity of a twenty-something with a penchant for the occasional rock climb. After pleasantries we discussed her belief in biodynamism and the ways in which the cosmos affects Mother Nature down to the Earth’s core. We toured the rudimentary winery occupied by the black-painted wooden vats and then down below to a vaulted tasting room, bottles lying hither and thither of what must constitute every wine she has made since acquiring Charles Noellat’s holdings in 1988 to establish Domaine Leroy. She was courteous to the point of occasionally scolding herself for vocally enthusing about the wines, mindful of not disturbing my perspicuity. Did the wines stand up to their reputations and let us face it, stratospheric price? The answer is “Yes.” Here was a master-class in terroir: the wines made in almost identical fashion in the winery, so that what is perceived in bottle is the interplay between Mother Nature and vine (under the guiding hand of Rudolph Steiner philosophy). Of course, one must always remain objective, and I have been around the block enough times to simply relate precisely what I find within the radius of a wineglass. And in 2011, it was clear that the wines of Lalou Bize-Leroy seemed to deliver a sensational level of quality that would make most winemakers curl up and weep, asking: “How does she do it?” I had to inquire at the end of the tasting whether they were all matured entirely in new oak, so seamlessly was the wood embroidered into each cuvee. Tasting through the entire range of 23 wines, before zooming down to Domaine d’Auvenay, the high points were scintillating Nuits-St-Georges Village Crus that transcended all my expectations and the sheer consistency of the Grand Crus, perhaps with the exception of the 2011 Latricieres-Chambertin, which I have always found wanting in the past. The Romanee-St-Vivant could be the apotheosis of the vintage, certainly one of the finest that I have tasted from the domaine and even dared “out-finesse” the Richebourg. What amazed me was the otherworldly precision, as if you could pick out each aroma or flavor from the air. Only the Chambolle-Musigny Charmes appeared unruly when compared to its peers, a little too feisty on the nose for my liking. Otherwise, this is just magic in a glass. Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 August 2013