Domaine Leroy   Chambertin Grand Cru

2006 Chambertin Grand Cru

By Domaine Leroy

2006 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France

The firmament of Burgundy has scarcely beheld a constellation as resplendent as the 2006 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy. It graces the palate with an orchestration of complexity and finesse—a testament to the vintage and the venerable hands at Domaine Leroy. My intimate knowledge of the vineyards' whispers over decades allows me to assert that this vintage is a beacon of Domaine Leroy’s masterful interpretation of terroir.

 

Investment in Exquisite Craftsmanship

The 2006 vintage, marked by its initial climatic hostility, eventually balanced its ledger with an indulgent Indian summer, blessing the gamay with a reprieve to fully express its potential. This serendipitous twist conjured a harvest capable of transcending its seasonal narrative. The meticulous husbandry of Domaine Leroy’s vigneron epitomised in the 2006 Chambertin Grand Cru underscores its potential as a prudent addition to any discerning fine wine portfolio.

 

A Vintage Distinct in Character

One need only glimpse at the balletic poise of this enigmatic potion to appreciate the delicate hues akin to garnets unearthed from ancient soils. Its aromatic tapestry weaves ripe cherries with whispers of earthy truffles and a reverent oak presence. On the palate, majesty unfolds—an intricacy where dark fruits dance alongside hints of cocoa and a melange of spices, all harmonised by sublimely integrated tannins.

As it evolves in the glass, it reveals itself like a secret spring garden beneath moonlight; its composure and depth are sheer revelations that beckon contemplation. One can scarcely ignore the whispering call for patience, promising further transcendence with cellar slumber.

In reflection, the 2006 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy offers investors and connoisseurs an opulent tapestry woven from a climatic narrative spun into vinous gold. It holds a mirror to Burgundy's soul—a sirenic call to those daring to embrace its elusive charm.

Current market price

£191,800.00

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

12786.67

Scores and tasting notes

95

Haunting rose petal, anise, and ripe cherry in the nose of Bize-Leroy's 2006 Chambertin signal a classic of its appellation, and the texturally-caressing, mouth-coating impression that follows tells you that this will be singularly 2006 in its tenderness and youthful approachability. Like the corresponding Latricieres, you have to look hard to find this Chambertin's abundance of fine tannin, as the flavors seem almost to hover over the palate, and its long finish practically dissolves into sheer inner-mouth perfume. The suggestions of carnal and mineral nuance here are extremely subtle – though almost sure to grow with time – and it is the wine's remarkably ethereal yet intense presence of sweetness and perfume that render it already unforgettable. The results achieved by Lalou Bize-Leroy in 2006 are all the more notable in view of the misgivings she expressed early on about this vintage. (And, as her reaction to 2004 demonstrates, she will not shy away from declassifying even her entire production if she feels that the wines are not up to their terroir pedigrees.) As voluptuously rich as are Bize-Leroy's 2006 reds, they preserve the sense of buoyancy and elegance common to so many of the standouts of this vintage, and one's gums will not come away fatigued by the strength of underlying tannin or the near-hyper-concentration displayed by her – to be sure awesome – 2005s. As every year, these wines represent meticulous vine manicure; miniscule yields ("above all regulated by severe pruning, not triage," Bize-Leroy emphasizes); and fidelity to biodynamic methods and metaphysics; and were bottled in the second December following the harvest. Despite their winsomeness, they have long life expectancies. Since, however, I have very little experience of their predecessors as they have matured, I have confined my prognostication to a few isolated and very general comments in the tasting notes that follow. Note that I have included as well under the heading "Leroy" the wines of Madame Bize-Leroy's Domaine d'Auvenay – its cellars located outside Saint-Romain – which now encompass two appellations in red, since inevitably when information is being sought about these wines, and even often when they are described, it is under the name "Leroy." Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-040

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009

Vintage performance