Lalou Bize-Leroy: Celebrating Sixty Years at Maison Leroy

There are tastings, and then there are tastings. From the moment I walk in the door, I know this is going to be an unforgettable afternoon. Twenty-two wines from Maison Leroy await, each of them representing a small piece of history belonging to one of the great families of Burgundy. The anticipation in the room is palpable.

A fervent defender of terroir – the single most essential concept that defines Burgundy – and a staunch believer in principles of biodynamics, Lalou Bize-Leroy remains one of the most iconic figures in wine. Born in 1932, the young Marcelle Leroy, known today to everyone as simply ‘Lalou,’ appeared destined for a life in wine after Henri Leroy placed a few drops of 1929 Musigny on the lips of his newborn baby daughter. The rest, as they say, is history.

The complete lineup just before the bottles are opened

Well, truth be told, there is a bit more to it than that. Lalou joined her father in the family business in 1955 and later became co-manager of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, where she was famously forced out in 1992. By then, Lalou had already laid the foundations for her own Domaine Leroy with the acquisitions of two estates; Charles Noellat in Vosne-Romanée and Philippe-Rémy in Gevrey-Chambertin. Today, the Domaine Leroy wines are among the most profound, rare and highly-coveted bottles in the world. Recent years appear to have brought about a rapprochement with DRC, where Lalou still owns 25% of the shares.

Domaine d’Auvenay, with Lalou Bize-Leroy’s faithful companions, Inès and Sylvain