The 2024 Benjamin Leroux Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Tête du Clos is an exceptional Chardonnay from a tiny 0.4-hectare parcel planted in 1955 at the apex of Morgeot. The site has remarkably shallow, rocky soils with abundant limestone, giving the wine an unusual combination of richness, concentration and mineral precision. Leroux considers Tête du Clos the “Chevalier-Montrachet of the south”, and the 2024 vintage certainly shows that ambition, with apricot, yellow peach and mandarin alongside white flowers, citrus, subtle spice and fine chalky notes.
On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, broad and beautifully textured, with vibrant acidity supporting layers of yellow peach, apricot, pear and citrus. More exotic fruit characters emerge alongside lychee, mandarin and kumquat, while a fine mineral and saline character provides tension and length. The shallow limestone-rich soils give the wine impressive energy beneath its rich fruit, while 18 months of barrel maturation, with a modest proportion of new oak, adds gentle creamy and savoury complexity without overwhelming the vineyard character. The finish is long, dry and remarkably persistent, with lingering stone fruit, citrus, mineral and subtle spice.
Ben’s Recommendation:
At Wine More Cellars, this is an exceptional choice for serious Burgundy Chardonnay collectors seeking a powerful yet refined Premier Cru with Grand Cru-like concentration. The 2024 is still very youthful, but its depth, acidity and mineral structure give it excellent ageing potential, with further honeyed, nutty and savoury complexity expected in bottle. Best enjoyed from around 2029–2038. Serve lightly chilled with butter-poached marron, seared scallops with brown butter, grilled turbot with beurre blanc, roast chicken with morels, lobster, or mushroom and truffle risotto.
