There are certain personalities that stand above the rest in the fine wine world. One of them is undoubtedly Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, the force behind not only Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay but also Maison Leroy. Her family’s 50% ownership of Domaine Romanée-Conti allowed Madame to grow her wine cellar to a nearly unrivaled status, and she remains by all accounts the most powerful woman in Burgundy. The Leroy family began its dominance in 1868. At that time, François Leroy founded Maison Leroy in Auxey-Duresses, a small hamlet in Meursault. Lalou’s father, Henri, joined the family business in 1919; by that time, it was already legendary. Lalou joined in 1955, and assumed directorship in 1971. Maison Leroy is the négociant house through which Lalou navigates the purchase and distribution of wines from the top appellations in Burgundy. Part oenophile, part sleuth, she consistently discovers the best of the best of vintage after vintage, personally giving the green light before bringing them to market. Her knowledge is comprehensive, and her palate never fails her.