Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2015 0,75L

Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru 2015

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 Hidden 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 distinguishes Les Narbantons is its unique marriage of power and finesse. The vineyard’s deeper soils and protected position create wines of surprising concentration and structure, yet the elevation and limestone base ensure they never lose elegance or precision. The climat produces Pinot Noir that balances immediate charm with serious aging potential—wines of both pleasure and profundity.

Domaine Leroy’s parcels in Les Narbantons benefit from old vines and decades of biodynamic farming that have restored the soil’s natural vitality. Lalou’s obsessive standards—hand-harvesting, rigorous selection, minimal yields—ensure that only the finest fruit expresses this terroir’s noble character. The result is Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru that captures both the site’s structural finesse and Leroy’s signature purity and intensity.

The 2015 Vintage

The 2015 vintage in Burgundy stands as one of the decade’s finest achievements. An ideal growing season—warm spring, hot summer moderated by cool nights, and perfect September weather—allowed Pinot Noir to achieve exceptional phenolic ripeness while maintaining vibrant acidity. Harvest conditions were optimal, with growers able to pick at ideal maturity without weather pressure.

For Premier Cru sites across Burgundy, 2015 delivered exceptional quality. Critics universally praised the vintage for producing wines of classical proportions: ripe fruit balanced by fresh acidity, supple tannins, and extraordinary aromatic complexity. The wines show both immediate approachability and serious aging potential—a rare combination that defines great vintages.

William Kelley (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) awarded this wine an exceptional 94 points, noting: ‘Domaine Leroy’s 2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons bursts from the glass with a deep bouquet of plums, red berries, grilled squab and forest floor. On the palate, the wine is broad and velvety, its tannins entirely hidden in a sapid core of fruit, its underpinning acids bright and vibrant and its finish long. This Savigny’s structural finesse is as striking as its marriage of bright fruit with kaleidoscopic savory nuance.’

Tasting Experience

• The wine literally ‘bursts from the glass’ with explosive aromatic intensity: deep layers of ripe plum, red berries, and wild raspberry form the core, while kaleidoscopic savory complexity emerges through grilled game bird, forest floor, crushed herbs, and subtle notes of smoke and spice. The bouquet is both opulent and refined—a complete expression of Premier Cru terroir.
• On the palate, the wine reveals ‘broad and velvety’ texture that belies its classification. The tannins are ‘entirely hidden in a sapid core of fruit’—concentrated flavors of plum, cherry, and wild berries wrapped in silk. ‘Bright and vibrant’ acidity provides lift and energy, creating remarkable freshness despite the wine’s obvious depth and concentration.
• Mid-palate complexity unfolds in waves: the ‘kaleidoscopic savory nuance’ includes notes of cured meat, truffle, wild mushroom, and earthy minerals that interweave seamlessly with the fruit core. Perfectly integrated oak adds subtle texture and spice without dominating. The biodynamic viticulture shines through in the wine’s extraordinary purity and mineral tension.
• The finish extends with ‘long’ persistence, leaving impressions of red fruit, forest floor, fine minerals, and perfectly ripe tannins. This is Savigny-lès-Beaune elevated to extraordinary heights—the ‘structural finesse’ rivals many Grand Cru wines, while the marriage of fruit and savory complexity represents the pinnacle of terroir expression.
• This bottling demonstrates why critics marvel at Domaine Leroy’s ability to extract Grand Cru-level performance from Premier Cru sites. At 94 points, it outscores many producers’ top wines, offering collectors exceptional quality and aging potential at a fraction of the price of Leroy’s most celebrated bottlings.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 16-18°C in large Burgundy stems to allow the wine’s explosive aromatics and velvety texture to fully express themselves. Decant 30-45 minutes before service to awaken the wine’s kaleidoscopic complexity. The wine’s hidden tannins and sapid fruit core benefit from aeration. Allow to evolve in the glass over 2-3 hours.

Exceptional pairings:

• Grilled game birds: squab with wild berry reduction, roasted pheasant with truffle jus
• Duck preparations: seared duck breast with plum sauce, confit de canard
• Wild mushroom dishes: porcini-crusted venison, chanterelle and truffle risotto
• Aged Burgundian cheeses: Époisses, mature Comté aged 24+ months, Langres
• Rich beef: braised short ribs with root vegetables, beef Wellington with mushroom duxelles

Cellaring & Evolution

At 9+ years from vintage, this wine is drinking beautifully now while retaining 15-20 years of additional aging potential. Domaine Leroy’s Premier Cru wines regularly evolve for 25-35 years thanks to exceptional concentration and biodynamic viticulture. The 2015 vintage’s perfect balance ensures graceful development.

The wine’s velvety tannins are already ‘entirely hidden,’ suggesting it has entered an optimal drinking window. However, the bright acidity and deep fruit core promise decades of evolution ahead. Those opening bottles now will experience youthful exuberance at its peak. Patient collectors will be rewarded with increasing savory complexity and tertiary development.

Store horizontally in a dark, vibration-free environment at 12-14°C with 70-75% humidity. This wine merits the same careful storage as Grand Cru bottlings. Examine fill level and cork condition, though at this age both should be excellent with proper provenance.

Collector’s Note: This Les Narbantons represents one of the most compelling opportunities in fine Burgundy collecting—a 94-point Premier Cru that delivers Grand Cru-level complexity and aging potential at a more accessible price. With Domaine Leroy’s wines commanding ever-higher prices and production severely limited by biodynamic farming, this bottling from the exceptional 2015 vintage offers serious collectors a chance to acquire Lalou Bize-Leroy’s artistry in a wine that ‘transcends expectations’ and promises decades of evolution. William Kelley’s effusive review confirms this as essential drinking for connoisseurs seeking structural finesse and kaleidoscopic complexity.