Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 0,75L

Name: Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons Savigny-les-Beaune Premier C...
Price: 2900.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Domaine Leroy

€ 2 900,00 (ex VAT)

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RPBERT PARKER " The 2011 Savigny-les-Beaune Les 1er Cru Narbantons is understated on the nose but offers subtle dried rose petal and wild heather scents with aeration, but remains laconic at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, almost corpulent entry. It has very fine volume in the mouth, fanning out on the broad dark plum and mulberry infused finish. This is one of the most approachable of Lalou’s 2011s and can just be summed up in the word, delicious.

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. "

Product Details

Classification: 1er Cru
Country: France
Producer: Domaine Leroy
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Cote de Beaune
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2011
Volume: 0,75
Sweetness: Dry
Type: Red
RP Score: 91

Category: Côte de Beaune, 1er Cru, Burgundy, France, Pinot Noir, Red, Wine

Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru 2011

A captivating expression from one of Savigny-lès-Beaune’s most exciting Premier Cru climats, this 2011 Les Narbantons showcases Lalou Bize-Leroy’s ability to extract extraordinary depth and elegance from even challenging vintages. Critics describe it as ‘delicious’—a wine of immediate approachability and fleshy charm, yet underlaid with the structure and complexity to evolve gracefully for decades. The 2011 vintage brings forth a wine of surprising generosity and refinement.

The Estate

Domaine Leroy represents the apex of Burgundian winemaking, founded by the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy, whose name alone commands reverence among collectors and connoisseurs worldwide. With vineyard holdings among the most precious in Burgundy—exclusively Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels—the domaine has cultivated a reputation for producing wines of unparalleled depth, precision, and longevity.

The estate’s philosophy centers on biodynamic viticulture practiced with almost spiritual devotion: minuscule yields (often below 20 hl/ha), old vines, and meticulous parcel selection ensure that only the most concentrated, expressive fruit enters the cellar. Minimal intervention winemaking and extended aging in French oak allow each terroir to speak with crystalline clarity. Domaine Leroy wines are not merely beverages—they are living expressions of Burgundy’s greatest climats, bottled poetry that evolves majestically over decades.

Les Narbantons: Savigny’s Premier Cru Jewel

Les Narbantons occupies prime mid-slope position on Savigny-lès-Beaune’s northern hillside, directly adjacent to Pernand-Vergelesses. This exceptional Premier Cru climat benefits from limestone-rich soils, ideal southeastern exposure, and cooling influences that preserve aromatic freshness and vibrant acidity—the hallmarks of great Savigny.

What makes Les Narbantons remarkable is its ability to produce wines of surprising fleshy texture and corpulent generosity while maintaining the refined elegance expected from top Côte de Beaune sites. The vineyard’s deeper soils create wines of concentration and volume, yet the limestone base and elevation ensure they never lose finesse or precision.

In Domaine Leroy’s hands, Les Narbantons reaches its fullest potential. Decades of biodynamic farming have restored the soil’s natural vitality, while old vines and minuscule yields ensure exceptional fruit concentration. Lalou’s obsessive selection and minimal intervention winemaking allow the terroir to express itself with remarkable purity. The result is Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru that rivals many Grand Cru bottlings in depth and aging potential.

Appellation
Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru AOC

Vintage
2011

Classification
Premier Cru

Grape Variety
100% Pinot Noir

Region
Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, France

The 2011 Vintage

The 2011 vintage in Burgundy arrived after a challenging growing season that tested vignerons’ skills and patience. An early April frost reduced yields, while a warm, dry summer allowed the remaining fruit to achieve exceptional concentration and phenolic ripeness. September brought ideal harvest conditions—cool nights and warm days—allowing for extended hang time and optimal flavor development.

For Premier Cru Pinot Noir, 2011 delivered wines of exceptional elegance and precision. Critics praised the vintage for producing wines with crystalline purity, vibrant acidity, and extraordinary aromatic complexity—classic proportions perfectly suited for long-term aging. The reduced yields from frost damage resulted in unexpected concentration in the best examples.

Neal Martin (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) awarded this wine 91 points, noting: ‘The 2011 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les 1er Cru Narbantons is understated on the nose but offers subtle dried rose petal and wild heather scents with aeration, but remains laconic at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, almost corpulent entry. It has very fine volume in the mouth, fanning out on the broad dark plum and mulberry infused finish. This is one of the most approachable of Lalou’s 2011s and can just be summed up in the word, delicious.’

Tasting Experience

At 13+ years of age, the wine has evolved beautifully from its youthful restraint. The nose now offers ‘subtle dried rose petal and wild heather scents’ along with developing notes of forest floor, truffle, and earthy spice. While initially ‘laconic,’ aeration reveals increasing aromatic complexity—a hallmark of wines built for long-term evolution.
On the palate, the wine delivers a ‘fleshy, almost corpulent entry’ that speaks to both the terroir’s generosity and the vintage’s concentration. ‘Very fine volume in the mouth’ creates impressive mid-palate density, while flavors of ‘broad dark plum and mulberry’ fan out across the palate. The texture is both substantial and refined—power married to elegance.
Mid-palate complexity continues to develop: savory notes of cured meat, wild mushroom, and forest floor complement the dark fruit core. The wine’s ‘fleshy’ character is balanced by underlying structure and vibrant acidity—evidence of both the 2011 vintage’s natural elegance and Leroy’s biodynamic viticulture. Oak integration is seamless, adding subtle texture without dominating.
The finish is ‘broad,’ ‘infused’ with dark plum and mulberry, extending with medium-long persistence. This is Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru at its most approachable and hedonistic—what critics sum up simply as ‘delicious.’ The wine balances immediate drinking pleasure with the structure for another 10-15 years of evolution.
This bottling demonstrates Domaine Leroy’s ability to excel even in challenging vintages. At 91 points, it represents exceptional quality and value within the portfolio—’one of the most approachable of Lalou’s 2011s’ yet built with the concentration and structure to reward patient cellaring.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 16-18°C in large Burgundy stems to showcase the wine’s fleshy texture and aromatic complexity. Decant 30-45 minutes before service to coax out the subtle rose petal and heather scents. The wine’s corpulent entry and fine volume benefit from aeration. Allow to evolve in the glass over 2-3 hours as it reveals increasing complexity.

Exceptional pairings:

Duck preparations: seared duck breast with plum sauce, duck confit with wild mushrooms
Game birds: roasted pheasant with mulberry reduction, squab with truffle jus
Rich beef: braised short ribs with root vegetables, beef bourguignon
Wild mushroom cuisine: porcini-crusted beef tenderloin, chanterelle risotto
Aged French cheeses: Époisses, mature Comté, Reblochon, aged Morbier

Cellaring & Evolution

At 13+ years from vintage, this wine is drinking beautifully now—’one of the most approachable of Lalou’s 2011s’—while retaining 10-15 years of additional aging potential. Domaine Leroy’s Premier Cru wines regularly evolve for 25-30 years thanks to exceptional concentration and biodynamic viticulture.

The wine’s ‘fleshy, almost corpulent’ character makes it immediately appealing, yet the underlying structure and ‘very fine volume’ promise continued development. Those opening bottles now will experience a wine in beautiful balance between youthful fruit and emerging complexity. Patient collectors will be rewarded with increasing savory depth and tertiary characteristics.

Store horizontally in a dark, vibration-free environment at 12-14°C with 70-75% humidity. The wine merits careful storage despite its approachability. Examine fill level and cork condition, both of which should be excellent at this age with proper provenance.

Collector’s Note: This 2011 Les Narbantons represents exceptional value within the Domaine Leroy portfolio—a 91-point Premier Cru from a challenging vintage that Lalou has transformed into something ‘delicious’ and immediately rewarding. While less expensive than the estate’s top Grand Cru bottlings, it delivers the same biodynamic purity and aging potential. For collectors seeking approachable Leroy that can be enjoyed now or cellared for another decade-plus, this wine offers the perfect combination of immediate pleasure and investment-grade aging potential.