Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 2011 0,75L

Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 2011

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.

Richebourg: The Grand Cru of Kings

Richebourg stands among Burgundy’s most prestigious and powerful Grand Cru vineyards, occupying 8.03 hectares on the mid-slope of Vosne-Romanée’s celebrated hillside. This exceptional terroir combines relatively deep clay-limestone soils with optimal southeastern exposure, creating the ideal environment for Pinot Noir of extraordinary concentration and complexity.

What distinguishes Richebourg from its illustrious neighbors is its unique expression of power wrapped in silk—wines of profound depth and muscular structure that never sacrifice elegance or refinement. The vineyard’s geology, featuring Bajocian limestone overlaid with iron-rich clay, produces wines that balance immediate opulence with remarkable aging potential, revealing new dimensions of complexity with each passing year.

Domaine Leroy’s parcels within this Grand Cru benefit from some of the oldest vines in the appellation, cultivated through rigorous biodynamic practices that have restored the soil’s vitality and microbial diversity. Hand-harvesting at optimal phenolic maturity and obsessive selection ensure that only the finest fruit—capable of expressing this terroir’s regal character—makes it to bottle. The result is Richebourg that captures both the site’s legendary power and Leroy’s signature purity and precision.

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 Grand 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. Now at 13+ years of age, the finest 2011 Grand Crus are entering their prime drinking window, revealing the complex tertiary characteristics that make Burgundy legendary.

Robert Parker awarded this wine an extraordinary 95 points, noting: ‘The 2011 Richebourg Grand Cru is a cousin of the Romanée-Saint-Vivant on the nose, but a little more taciturn prior to revealing enthralling sea-spray scents with aeration, here interpolated by subtle pine needle scents, coniferous forest. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a denser framework than the RSV with a powerful, almost burly finish… Still, a magnificent wine.’ This assessment confirmed the wine’s place among the vintage’s elite bottlings.

Tasting Experience

• The wine opens with breathtaking aromatic complexity: layers of dark cherry, wild raspberry, and blackberry compote intertwine with exotic spices, crushed rose petals, and subtle notes of forest floor. With aeration, the Grand Cru terroir reveals itself through delicate marine-like salinity, pine needle, and coniferous forest nuances—an ‘enthralling sea-spray’ character that speaks to the vineyard’s unique geology.
• On the palate, this Richebourg delivers the hallmark power of the climat elevated by Domaine Leroy’s characteristic precision. Supple yet structured tannins frame a core of concentrated dark fruit—preserved plum, kirsch, and wild berries—while the wine’s medium-bodied elegance belies its underlying density and grip. The texture is simultaneously muscular and refined, powerful yet never heavy.
• Mid-palate depth unfolds in waves: savory notes of cured meat, truffle, and earthy mushroom complement the wine’s fruit core, while perfectly integrated oak adds whispers of vanilla, cedar, and sweet spice. The biodynamic viticulture is evident in the wine’s extraordinary energy, vibrancy, and mineral tension—a ‘denser framework’ that provides both immediate pleasure and decades of aging potential.
• The finish extends with remarkable length and complexity, leaving impressions of dark fruit, iron, exotic spices, and fine limestone minerals. This is Richebourg in its complete expression—powerful yet refined, complex yet harmonious, opulent yet precise. The wine has entered its optimal drinking window, offering profound pleasure now while suggesting further evolution for patient collectors.
• This bottle captures Lalou Bize-Leroy at the peak of her powers, working with one of Burgundy’s most prestigious terroirs, in a vintage that delivered extraordinary concentration and classical proportions. It is, quite simply, essential drinking for serious Burgundy collectors seeking the pinnacle of Grand Cru expression.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 16-18°C in large Burgundy stems to allow the wine’s complex aromatics to fully express themselves. Decant 45-60 minutes before service to awaken the wine and integrate its components—this allows the ‘enthralling sea-spray scents’ to emerge fully. Pour gently to avoid disturbing any natural sediment. Allow the wine to evolve in the glass; it will continue revealing new dimensions over 3-4 hours.

Exceptional pairings:

• Roasted game birds: wild duck with cherry reduction, roasted pheasant with truffle jus
• Premium beef preparations: dry-aged ribeye with bone marrow butter, beef Wellington
• Wild mushroom dishes: cèpe-crusted venison loin, porcini risotto with aged Parmesan
• Aged Burgundian cheeses: Époisses de Bourgogne, Langres, or Comté aged 36+ months
• Truffle preparations: pasta with black truffle shavings, truffle-stuffed quail

Cellaring & Evolution

At 13+ years from vintage, this wine has entered its optimal drinking window and will continue to offer extraordinary pleasure for another 10-15 years under ideal storage conditions. Domaine Leroy’s Grand Cru Richebourg is renowned for exceptional longevity, often evolving gracefully for 30-40 years when properly cellared.

The 2011 vintage’s excellent structure and Leroy’s characteristic concentration have ensured remarkable preservation. Those opening bottles now will experience the wine at early maturity—primary fruit transitioning to complex tertiary characteristics while retaining vibrant energy and fresh acidity. Collectors may continue cellaring with confidence; the wine’s dense framework suggests decades of evolution ahead.

Store horizontally in a dark, vibration-free environment at 12-14°C with 70-75% humidity. Given the wine’s prestige and value, careful provenance and storage history are essential. Examine bottles for optimal fill level (high shoulder or better) and cork condition before purchase.

Collector’s Note: Domaine Leroy Richebourg represents the holy grail of Burgundy collecting—a wine that combines the world’s most celebrated producer with one of the region’s most prestigious Grand Cru vineyards. With production limited to just a few hundred cases and Lalou Bize-Leroy’s wines commanding ever-higher prices at auction, bottles from prime vintages like 2011 represent increasingly rare opportunities. This 95-point masterpiece, now drinking beautifully while promising decades of further evolution, offers both immediate transcendent pleasure and exceptional long-term investment potential for discerning collectors.