RUppert-Leroy

Bénédicte Leroy’s parents moved to Essoyes in 1975 and started a small farm on a clearing above the town where they raised sheep. In the 1980s, when the farm was no longer economically viable, they decided to plant some grapes on the land that had previously been used for grazing. Little by little, they planted 4ha of vines in Essoyes and Noé-les-Mallets (not including the garden and small pasture they kept for their own animals), initially selling all of the grapes to the local cooperative. After working with Bertrand Gautherot of Vouette et Sorbée, Bénédicte decided to quit her job as a PE teacher and take over the family domaine just as her father was getting ready to retire in 2009. Today, Bénédicte and her husband Manu run the small farm complete with horses, cows, sheep, and chickens, and they grow their own grains. Inspired by Bénédicte's mentor, they embrace all of the principles of biodynamics, creating their own compost and preparations, and have become an integral part of the biodynamic movement in France. Their quest for the simplest winemaking has lead them toward the spirit of 'vin nature'. Each cuvée comes from a single vintage of a single vineyard, bottled with no dosage. Since the 2013 vintage, no sulfur is used at the winery. Vinifications are with natural yeast from their grapes, without any fining, filtering, or 'liqueur de tirage'. The base wines age on their fine lees in barrel and demi-muids for 9 months with natural malolactic fermentation before aging in bottle 'sur latte' for 18-20 months. Since the 2013 vintage, no sulfur is used at the winery.