Domaine Leroy   Latricieres Chambertin

2006 Latricieres Chambertin

By Domaine Leroy

2006 Latricieres-Chambertin from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France

Within the pantheon of Burgundian wines, the 2006 Latricieres-Chambertin from Domaine Leroy marks a distinguished entry. In an era where each vintage gets meticulously dissected for its unique nuances, this particular year stands as a beacon of domain expertise, gracefully weathering a challenging growing season to produce wines with profound complexity.

 

The Quintessence of Vintage Character

The 2006 vintage posed considerable tests to vintners; a cool, unsettled summer was redeemed by an eleventh-hour spell of warmth, conferring essential ripeness to the fruit. Such conditions demanded vigilance and exacting standards from Domaine Leroy – virtues that have long underlain their exceptional reputation. The result is a Latricieres-Chambertin endowed with a delicate precision, showcasing a poised interplay between the cherubic red fruits and the grounding earthiness emblematic of Gevrey-Chambertin's finest terroirs.

 

Rarity and Reward: A Connoisseur’s Investment

Collectors familiar with Domaine Leroy will recognize the rarity that the 2006 vintage represents. As such, it occupies a coveted space in the portfolios of discerning wine investors. Beyond its scarcity, it exhibits the quintessential signs of favourable ageing: the tannins are mellifluous and integrated; the bouquet is layered with hints of violet and spice, advanced by whispers of tertiary development that signal impeccable maturation potential.

Engaging now and assured to evolve splendidly, this 2006 Latricieres-Chambertin offers an exquisite counterpoint to more exuberant vintages. It is an articulate testament to the estate's resilient winemaking ethos and one that connoisseurs with an eye for both pleasure and investment are advised to observe closely.

In conclusion, the 2006 Latricieres-Chambertin from Domaine Leroy is compelling not only in glass but also as an investment virtue – a testimony to Burgundy's resilience in challenging vintages and a must for any comprehensive portfolio in fine wines.

Current market price

$149,410.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

6905.38

Scores and tasting notes

93

The Leroy 2006 Latricieres Chambertin smells of black tea, peat, ripe cherry, and smoked meat. This is another remarkably silken and buoyant member of its collection, and only in the finish does one become aware of a saturation of fine tannins, which even then practically caress. This lingers last as sheer perfume. The price of such a sense of comfortable fit and rarified personality surprising for a youthful wine from its sector is perhaps a certain lack of grip or drama that might disappoint some tasters, but this elegant Pinot is sure to handsomely reward those lucky enough to be able to follow some bottles. The results achieved by Lalou Bize-Leroy in 2006 are all the more notable in view of the misgivings she expressed early on about this vintage. (And, as her reaction to 2004 demonstrates, she will not shy away from declassifying even her entire production if she feels that the wines are not up to their terroir pedigrees.) As voluptuously rich as are Bize-Leroy's 2006 reds, they preserve the sense of buoyancy and elegance common to so many of the standouts of this vintage, and one's gums will not come away fatigued by the strength of underlying tannin or the near-hyper-concentration displayed by her – to be sure awesome – 2005s. As every year, these wines represent meticulous vine manicure; miniscule yields ("above all regulated by severe pruning, not triage," Bize-Leroy emphasizes); and fidelity to biodynamic methods and metaphysics; and were bottled in the second December following the harvest. Despite their winsomeness, they have long life expectancies. Since, however, I have very little experience of their predecessors as they have matured, I have confined my prognostication to a few isolated and very general comments in the tasting notes that follow. Note that I have included as well under the heading "Leroy" the wines of Madame Bize-Leroy's Domaine d'Auvenay – its cellars located outside Saint-Romain – which now encompass two appellations in red, since inevitably when information is being sought about these wines, and even often when they are described, it is under the name "Leroy." Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-040

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009

Vintage performance