Leroy’s 2018 Domaine d’Auvenay | The finest 2018 Burgundies you will find

White Burgundy has dominated our investment recommendations this year – and for good reason. We are seeing significant demand for exactly that. Therefore, we recommend buying young white Burgundy while it’s still possible at accessible prices – both from emerging producers and from the absolute elite. Here is one of the greats – perhaps even the greatest.

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Lalou Bize-Leroy. The name resonates with wine lovers around the world – synonymous with perfection, uncompromising dedication, and an almost spiritual approach to winemaking – second to none when it comes to white Burgundy. At a time when biodynamics was met with scepticism, Lalou went her own way and set a new standard for Burgundy.

Now you have the opportunity to invest in two 2018 d’Auvenay wines, released in 2024. They are not only expressions of perhaps the world’s most sought-after winemaker but, according to William Kelley, also among the finest Burgundies you will find from the vintage.

With microscopic production, iconic heritage, and Lalou’s personal signature, this is something truly special. The fact is, at 93 years old, Lalou will (likely) soon pass the baton and retire her pruning shears.

These 2018 releases were made by Lalou herself. Endorsed by critics. Attractive to collectors worldwide – especially because prices remain close to the estate’s release level. And because they are considered to “last an eternity.”

Read more below. But before diving into the story of d’Auvenay and the investment opportunity, there’s something you should know:

Leroy and Top White Burgundy Are the High Performers

The top 100 best-performing wines managed by RareWine Invest have yielded an average return of 190 % over the past five years, equivalent to 23.9 % per year.
These 100 wines span 19 different producers. Unsurprisingly, d’Auvenay performs strongly, with no fewer than 14 wines in the top 100. Those 14 have delivered an average return of 298 % over the last five years.

But that’s not the only remarkable fact: The top-performing producer on the list is Domaine Leroy, represented by 22 wines. Domaine Leflaive ranks third with 12 different wines. In other words, 48 out of the 100 best-performing wines over the past five years are top white Burgundies and/or bear Leroy’s unmistakable imprint.

Domaine d’Auvenay – A Distillation of Devoted Perfectionism

There exists one woman whose life’s work reshaped the wine world and earned a place on a pedestal no one has yet come close to replacing: Lalou Bize-Leroy. She was the first in Burgundy to embrace biodynamics wholeheartedly – long before it became fashionable. She approached the vine as a living being rather than a tool, a philosophy that has influenced an entire generation of winemakers.

Born into wine in 1932, her father, Henri Leroy, was co-owner of none other than Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, where Lalou apprenticed and, in 1973, became co-manager – playing a major role in raising the estate to the absolute top.

In 1955, she founded Maison Leroy, one of the most prestigious négociant houses. In 1988, she acquired her first vineyards and established Domaine Leroy, fully embracing biodynamics. Many doubted her then, but the world soon learned that Lalou was right. Today, Domaine Leroy encompasses around 21 hectares of vines across legendary vineyards such as Chambertin, Richebourg, and Musigny. Through Domaine Leroy, Lalou proved to the world that her vision was right – and her wines are among the finest experiences a wine lover can have.

That same year, she founded Domaine d’Auvenay – not with the intention of becoming just another Burgundy producer, but as a personal project that would reveal devotion as her greatest instrument.

Nestled in the hills above Auxey-Duresses, d’Auvenay became her and her husband’s sanctuary: a former hunting lodge transformed into a home, cellar, and laboratory for her winemaking philosophy. D’Auvenay is not merely her estate; it is her world, her soil, the centre of her life.

From this small base, she tends some of Burgundy’s most noble parcels – tiny plots scattered across Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Her white wines come from legendary vineyards such as Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Meursault Gouttes d’Or, and Auxey-Duresses La Macabrée; her reds from Bonnes-Mares and Mazis-Chambertin.

Each parcel is cultivated with extreme care and precision – just a few rows of vines producing a handful of barrels per year. These wines express not only terroir but Lalou’s uncompromising pursuit of perfection.

2018 d’Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet Richarde

En la Richarde lies within Puligny-Montrachet’s largest Premier Cru vineyard, Les Folatières – neighbouring Chevalier-Montrachet, Les Caillerets, and Les Pucelles. The vineyard covers only 0,21 hectares, resulting in minuscule yields. And as with everything associated with Leroy, nothing is done halfway. The biodynamic philosophy dictates every step; sorting is seen as crucial – up to 40 people work at the sorting tables, all long-time collaborators of Leroy to ensure nothing is rushed or compromised. After vinification, the wines are aged for several years before release.

2018 d’Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet Richarde received 95 points from Wine Advocate, while neither Burghound nor Vinous have yet rated it.

Currently, there are 10 full-case listings on wine-searcher.com, with an average price of €7.173* and the lowest at €6.110*. The average offer price has dropped by 16 % since February 2024, reflecting a turbulent market that has led to price corrections even for the world’s most expensive wines.

Your price: €5.500, just €170 above the 2024 ex-estate release price.

Total production: 1.177 bottles
Drinking window: 2028–2055
Only six bottles available
Price: €5.500 per bottle
Packaging: OWC3

*Price ex. tax, duties, and VAT, full cases only, perfect condition.

2018 d’Auvenay Auxey-Duresses Macabrée

La Macabrée sits on the border of Meursault but officially belongs to the Auxey-Duresses appellation. This subtle distinction makes it one of Burgundy’s best-kept secrets – Meursault-level quality without the Meursault label. The soil is almost identical to Meursault’s top vineyards such as Les Narvaux and Les Tillets: chalky, stony, and rich in iron oxide, giving it a reddish hue and deep mineral profile.

The vineyard was planted in the 1960s and covers 0,62 hectares, again resulting in very low yields.
A quick search on wine-searcher.com reveals two facts: there are virtually no listings of older Macabrée vintages, and the average offer price for 2018 d’Auvenay Auxey-Duresses Macabrée is €4.698*. Your price is €3.750* – almost identical to the 2024 estate release price of €3.670.

Total production: 2.390 bottles
Drinking window: 2024–2048
Only six bottles available
Price: €3.750 per bottle
Packaging: OWC3

*Price ex. tax, duties, and VAT, full cases only, perfect condition.

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RareWine Invest’s Opinion

“Lalou Bize-Leroy is making wines not for the present, but for eternity.” That may well be true – and d’Auvenay is indeed second to none. But even a queen must one day abdicate. Lalou still works both in the vineyard and the cellar despite being born in 1932, and her mark and quality seal are therefore present on these 2018 releases – wines made for eternity (at least while quantities last). And with quantities this small, eternity may be brief.

There will come a day when Lalou no longer leaves her personal imprint on d’Auvenay’s releases. When that day comes, we do not know. But we do know this: you now have the opportunity to secure the queen’s own masterpiece.

We do not recommend one release over the other. As always – first come, first served.