Benjamin Leroux Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru La Pièce Sous Le Bois 2022

This is now a flagship wine for Ben, who works 1.5 of the 2.2 hectares of Chardonnay available. Leroux vines average 50 years old and are biodynamically certified. This is perhaps Ben’s most extreme and rocky terroir, and his hunch that higher vineyards are becoming more important with climate change is paying off. While it lies at high altitude (320 to 350 metres) and endures bitterly cold winters, the vineyard picks up plenty of sun during the summer. 2022 is a stunning fit for this beautiful vineyard. You have the silky ripeness of the year countered by spicy, mineral grip. Listening to Leroux talk about Blagny, he clearly loves the “Saint Aubin-style” terroir. He used various aging vessels for this release, including a glass Wine Globe and new egg-shaped foudre.