2018 Benjamin Leroux Auxey-Duresses Blanc

Leroux’s terrific Auxey-Duresses was drawn from three terroirs—Les Hautés, La Macabrée and Les Boutonniers—all abutting Meursault’s Les Vireuils Dessous and Les Meix Chavaux. The oldest vines date back to 1946. The land here is north-facing and affected by the cold air rolling down from the Hautes-Côtes—so a very fresh terroir! The higher vineyards of the Côte performed brilliantly in 2018, and this is a great example of this phenomena. This was mostly vinified in 12-hectolitre casks.

This wine has a nose of fresh peach and buttered toast that is very reminiscent of Meursault, though with perhaps a touch of lime that points to a cooler appellation. The palate has some ripe, exotic fruit but is underpinned by a precise core of citrus acidity and rounded out with a toasty, creamy finish.