2016 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
| Drink window | 2022 - 2036 |
Description
Domaine Leflaive is one of the most prestigious wineries in Burgundy, best known for its exceptional white wines, made from Chardonnay grapes. Located in the village of Puligny-Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune, Domaine Leflaive is known for its commitment to biodynamic viticulture and its emphasis on expressing the unique terroir.
One of the jewels in their crown is the Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru. This wine comes from one of the best Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy, namely Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, which borders the legendary Bâtard-Montrachet vineyard. The wine is made from Chardonnay and represents the highest level of elegance, finesse and complexity that Burgundy has to offer. How exclusive do you want it? Leflaive produces a maximum of 600 bottles of this wine annually.
The 2016 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is an outstanding vintage from this prestigious estate. This white wine, from the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard in the Côte de Beaune, is one of the most refined and complex wines from Burgundy.
Features of the 2016 vintage
The 2016 vintage was marked by challenging weather conditions in Burgundy. Spring frost and hail caused significant yield losses, making the grape harvest scarce but of very high quality. The smaller harvest allowed for a greater concentration of flavours and aromas, often making these wines deeper and richer.
Tasting notes
The 2016 Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru offers everything you would expect from a top wine from this vineyard:
- Colour : The wine has a clear, golden colour, which will deepen with age.
- Aroma : On the nose the wine offers refined aromas of white flowers, citrus, ripe peach, and subtle notes of hazelnut and butter. In addition, there are mineral accents, which contribute to the freshness and elegance.
- Taste : In the mouth the wine has a rich, creamy texture, with a great balance between freshness and depth. The taste is layered with notes of stone fruit (such as peach and apricot), citrus zest, a touch of honey and a mineral undertone typical of the vineyard.
- Finish : The wine has a long, complex finish with a perfect balance between richness and refinement.
Maturation and storage potential
The 2016 vintage of Domaine Leflaive's Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has impressive aging potential. While it already offers wonderful structure and finesse, it will continue to develop with age. Expect the wine to gain even more depth and complexity after 10-15 years, with more pronounced notes of nuts, honey and dried fruit.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne |
| Appellation | Puligny-Montrachet |
| Icons | Icon France |
| Winery | Domaine Leflaive |
| Grape | Chardonnay |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Drinking as of | 2022 |
| Drinking till | 2036 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 93 |
| Vinous rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2020 - 2035
The 2016 Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru was diminished from 22 to seven barrels this vintage. The bouquet demanded some coaxing from the glass, a little introverted following the Pucelles and Folatières. With time there are fleeting glimpses of wild mint and iodine. The palate is very balanced and harmonious, a pretty and feminine Bienvenues with nicely pitched acidity and a touch of orange peel and white peach toward the saline finish. I suspect it will drink earlier than Leflaive’s other grand crus.
I have been visiting Domaine Leflaive since the late 1990s—always the same address close to the Montrachet restaurant in the heart of Puligny village. The domaine has not so much "changed" but "changed tack" since the untimely passing of Anne-Claude Leflaive and the subsequent passing of the gauntlet to Brice de la Mondarie. So perhaps I should not have been surprised when I was instructed to ring the doorbell at a different address to the one I was accustomed: their cuverie and first-year barrel cellar almost opposite the cellars of Jean-Jacques Confuron. In fact, I learned that the family owns practically the entire Rue de l’Eglise, an accretion of real estate parceled with piecemeal vineyard acquisitions over decades. I must confess that tasting in the "engine room" put a different slant on my own perspective of Leflaive. Not that I have never seen a vat room in my life. I've seen one or two. But suddenly I discovered subtle improvements in recent months. They have removed all the air conditioning and replaced it with naturally insulating material in order to create a more tranquil environment, using dry straw compacted behind the impressive arch-shaped, ocher-colored, high-ceiling walls. And of course here their new winemaker, former Domaine de la Vougeraie maestro Pierre Vincent, has worked since his appointment in January 2017.
Speaking to both Pierre and Brice, it is abundantly clear that Pierre has introduced ideas and Brice is the kind of proactive man who will ensure that they happen so as to tweak the modus operandi. One example is using nitrogen to transfer from barrel to barrel, to push the juice along the pipes and reduce their exposure to oxygen. For me the most significant change, one that has major implications for the domaine, is that now they expose the juice before pressing in one of five presses, introducing antioxidants that protect the wine once in bottle. Pierre showed me pictures of experiments with different levels of sulfur on the browned juice that clarifies and becomes clear after fermentation. They also decant the first ferment into a small vat, then reintroduce it at a later stage of conversion in order to induce a more prompt beginning to alcoholic fermentation. One hopes that these techniques will address the frequency of premature oxidation in bottle that tarnished the reputation of the domaine.
In the vineyard also, Brice is not averse to anything that will help the vines, using a helicopter to mitigate against frost damage in 2017 and pulling out parcels of old vines that had been damaged by frost. Wishing no disrespect to Anne-Claude, Brice’s can-do approach has re-energized the domaine without compromising the ideals of his predecessor. Still, no amount of biodynamics could allay the sturm und drang of the first six months of the 2016 growing season. “The frost was terrible for Puligny, especially for the Grand Crus, Bourgogne Blanc and Village Cru,” Brice told me, as usual attired in the smart suit of a country gent walking the dogs on a crisp October morning. “For the latter two it was a combination of frost and mildew. The frost really weakened the buds. The grand crus are 80% down in 2016, Les Pucelles around 20% down, but the rest of the premier crus are fine since the frost affected more the Chassagne part. The grand crus were at picked at 10 hectoliters per hectare and the Montrachet at just 5 hectoliters per hectare.” I will return to that infamous multi-grower blend of Montrachet later. Pierre Vincent continued: “We had the frost on 26 April but the rest of the season was quite good in terms of sanitary conditions. The maturity of the grapes went well and the summer was not too hot. The harvest began on 21 September, a rather later vintage than in recent years. Many people believe that it was a horrible year due to the frost, following good vintages in 2014 and 2015. But in reality, when you look at the wines themselves, 2016 is quite a good vintage. If it were not for the mildew it could have been fantastic."
My tasting began with two labels that I rarely taste, their Pouilly-Fuissé which comes from several parcels, one of which is destined for premier cru classification when it incepts, and their Auxey-Duresses Blanc which comes from purchased fruit. The premier crus, all raised in 20% new oak, really take off with the excellent Les Combettes, Folatières and Les Pucelles, equal to the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. And this year, the Bâtard-Montrachet demonstrated a touch more drive than the Chevalier-Montrachet, though Brice himself suggested that in several years the Chevalier will edge ahead of its bastard cousin. Hmm…let’s wait and see on that. I loved the Bâtard-Montrachet that overcame the frost damage to produce a wine of genuine tension and mineralité. Of course, there is a fourth grand cru, the 2016 Montrachet. The devastation prompted six growers to blend what survived of their Montrachet, lest they blend it into premier cru. There are just under two barrels, transferred into two stainless steel vats in the corner of Domaine Leflaive just next to the Chevalier-Montrachet. It is due to be bottled next year. “There are 500 bottles,” Brice explained. “Instead of dividing it up according to contribution with the labels of domaines [which the authorities immediately refused] we have formed a company called “L’Exceptionel Vendange de Sept Domaine” that will release and distribute the wine.” Sept? Seven? I thought there were six growers. Apparently one holding is split with a métayage, hence seven. At the moment discussions are ongoing about how the wine will be distributed.
Published: Dec 29, 2017
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Wine Spectator
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru – 2016 – Wine Spectator – 95 Points
Though rich, this white is also dense, giving a feeling of intensity to the white peach, citronella and pastry aromas and flavors. Well-proportioned, yet will require some time to really harmonize and reveal all its charms. Long, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2032.
Bruce Sanderson, August 31 2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
(92-93)
From: 2016 White Burgundy: Excellent, But Complicated (Sep 2018)
(the grand crus were not yet bottled): A touch of reduction to the aromas of yellow fruits, minerals and hazelnut; very Puligny in style. Juicy, spicy and penetrating but smooth as well, with its fine-grained texture and pineapple fruit leavened by harmonious acidity. Finishes firm, seamless and long.
- By Stephen Tanzer on May 2014
Both estate director Brice de la Morandière and winemaker Pierre Vincent consider 2016 to be a cooler year without a lot of exotic character. Grape sugars were in the reasonable 12% to 13% range (a bit lower than in 2017), and some of the less-ripe fruit got a touch of chaptalization. The 2016 grand crus were still in tank, awaiting imminent bottling, at the time of my visit on the last day of May.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet is a name that rings a bell. Chardonnay, tradition and progress come together beautifully here.
History of Domaine Leflaive
The story of Domaine Leflaive begins in the 18th century but truly takes shape in the twentieth. Joseph Leflaive, a former marine engineer, took over the family estate in 1905. After the phylloxera crisis he bought additional plots, replanted the vineyards, and started bottling under his own label. That laid the foundation for the estate as we know it today.
After his death in 1953, his sons Vincent and Jo took the lead. They strengthened the name both in Burgundy and abroad. In the 1990s Anne-Claude Leflaive stepped in. She made a bold move by converting the estate entirely to biodynamic farming. Since 2015, Brice de la Morandière, Anne-Claude’s nephew, has been in charge. He combines respect for tradition with innovations such as the sustainable cellar built in 2012.
Location in Puligny-Montrachet
Domaine Leflaive is located in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet, a small village in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. This region is known worldwide as the birthplace of Chardonnay. The limestone-rich soil and perfect exposure create wines with tension, freshness, and depth. Here everything revolves around terroir: small differences in slope or soil type give wines with their own unique character.
Grape varieties at Domaine Leflaive
The focus is entirely on Chardonnay. No red wine is made. That may sound limited, but this dedication is exactly what made the estate great. From a simple Bourgogne Blanc to the most legendary Grand Crus: all come from the same grape, yet from different parcels. This way you taste the pure differences between soil and location.
Specialities and famous vineyards
Domaine Leflaive owns parcels in some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. Think Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. In addition, there are impressive Premier Crus such as Les Pucelles, Clavoillon, and Les Folatières. They also make a distinctive Meursault and an approachable Bourgogne Blanc. The latter comes from vineyards just outside Puligny and shows that even the entry-level wines at Leflaive carry plenty of character.
Biodynamic viticulture and cellar techniques
Since 1997 Domaine Leflaive has worked fully biodynamically. That means using natural preparations and following the rhythms of nature. No artificial chemicals, but full attention to the health of the soil. In the cellar the approach is patient: slow pressing, fermentations with minimal intervention, one year of ageing in oak barrels followed by six months in neutral vats. Since 2012 this has taken place in a remarkable cellar known as the ‘Egg Cellar’. This round building, insulated with straw and wood, is energy-efficient and designed to let the wines mature perfectly.
Interesting facts about Domaine Leflaive
- Before becoming a winegrower, Joseph Leflaive helped build the first French submarine.
- The estate’s Grand Cru Montrachet is only released after ten years of ageing in the cellar, so it can show its full complexity.
- Anne-Claude Leflaive received international acclaim as a pioneer in biodynamics and was awarded several prizes for her contribution.
Order Domaine Leflaive wines online?
At Grandcruwijnen you’ll find Domaine Leflaive wines stored in a climate-controlled Wine Warehouse. This means they’re kept under perfect conditions. When ordering online you can choose delivery or pickup in Dordrecht. If you choose pickup, you’ll see the discount immediately during checkout. Convenient and cost-saving.
Trivia
Wine Trivia
🍷 Enjoyed these wine facts? Share your newfound knowledge with fellow wine enthusiasts!
Discover Wine Trivia
Sign in to unlock fascinating facts about this wine and expand your knowledge.
Sign In
Domaine Leflaive is one of the most prestigious wineries in Burgundy, best known for its exceptional white wines, made from Chardonnay grapes. Located in the village of Puligny-Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune, Domaine Leflaive is known for its commitment to biodynamic viticulture and its emphasis on expressing the unique terroir.
One of the jewels in their crown is the Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru. This wine comes from one of the best Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy, namely Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, which borders the legendary Bâtard-Montrachet vineyard. The wine is made from Chardonnay and represents the highest level of elegance, finesse and complexity that Burgundy has to offer. How exclusive do you want it? Leflaive produces a maximum of 600 bottles of this wine annually.
The 2016 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is an outstanding vintage from this prestigious estate. This white wine, from the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard in the Côte de Beaune, is one of the most refined and complex wines from Burgundy.
Features of the 2016 vintage
The 2016 vintage was marked by challenging weather conditions in Burgundy. Spring frost and hail caused significant yield losses, making the grape harvest scarce but of very high quality. The smaller harvest allowed for a greater concentration of flavours and aromas, often making these wines deeper and richer.
Tasting notes
The 2016 Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru offers everything you would expect from a top wine from this vineyard:
- Colour : The wine has a clear, golden colour, which will deepen with age.
- Aroma : On the nose the wine offers refined aromas of white flowers, citrus, ripe peach, and subtle notes of hazelnut and butter. In addition, there are mineral accents, which contribute to the freshness and elegance.
- Taste : In the mouth the wine has a rich, creamy texture, with a great balance between freshness and depth. The taste is layered with notes of stone fruit (such as peach and apricot), citrus zest, a touch of honey and a mineral undertone typical of the vineyard.
- Finish : The wine has a long, complex finish with a perfect balance between richness and refinement.
Maturation and storage potential
The 2016 vintage of Domaine Leflaive's Bienvenues Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has impressive aging potential. While it already offers wonderful structure and finesse, it will continue to develop with age. Expect the wine to gain even more depth and complexity after 10-15 years, with more pronounced notes of nuts, honey and dried fruit.
FACT: In the tab 'Attachments' you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send you this when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne |
| Appellation | Puligny-Montrachet |
| Icons | Icon France |
| Winery | Domaine Leflaive |
| Grape | Chardonnay |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Drinking as of | 2022 |
| Drinking till | 2036 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 93 |
| Vinous rating | 93 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
| Drink moments | Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Parker
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2020 - 2035
The 2016 Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru was diminished from 22 to seven barrels this vintage. The bouquet demanded some coaxing from the glass, a little introverted following the Pucelles and Folatières. With time there are fleeting glimpses of wild mint and iodine. The palate is very balanced and harmonious, a pretty and feminine Bienvenues with nicely pitched acidity and a touch of orange peel and white peach toward the saline finish. I suspect it will drink earlier than Leflaive’s other grand crus.
I have been visiting Domaine Leflaive since the late 1990s—always the same address close to the Montrachet restaurant in the heart of Puligny village. The domaine has not so much "changed" but "changed tack" since the untimely passing of Anne-Claude Leflaive and the subsequent passing of the gauntlet to Brice de la Mondarie. So perhaps I should not have been surprised when I was instructed to ring the doorbell at a different address to the one I was accustomed: their cuverie and first-year barrel cellar almost opposite the cellars of Jean-Jacques Confuron. In fact, I learned that the family owns practically the entire Rue de l’Eglise, an accretion of real estate parceled with piecemeal vineyard acquisitions over decades. I must confess that tasting in the "engine room" put a different slant on my own perspective of Leflaive. Not that I have never seen a vat room in my life. I've seen one or two. But suddenly I discovered subtle improvements in recent months. They have removed all the air conditioning and replaced it with naturally insulating material in order to create a more tranquil environment, using dry straw compacted behind the impressive arch-shaped, ocher-colored, high-ceiling walls. And of course here their new winemaker, former Domaine de la Vougeraie maestro Pierre Vincent, has worked since his appointment in January 2017.
Speaking to both Pierre and Brice, it is abundantly clear that Pierre has introduced ideas and Brice is the kind of proactive man who will ensure that they happen so as to tweak the modus operandi. One example is using nitrogen to transfer from barrel to barrel, to push the juice along the pipes and reduce their exposure to oxygen. For me the most significant change, one that has major implications for the domaine, is that now they expose the juice before pressing in one of five presses, introducing antioxidants that protect the wine once in bottle. Pierre showed me pictures of experiments with different levels of sulfur on the browned juice that clarifies and becomes clear after fermentation. They also decant the first ferment into a small vat, then reintroduce it at a later stage of conversion in order to induce a more prompt beginning to alcoholic fermentation. One hopes that these techniques will address the frequency of premature oxidation in bottle that tarnished the reputation of the domaine.
In the vineyard also, Brice is not averse to anything that will help the vines, using a helicopter to mitigate against frost damage in 2017 and pulling out parcels of old vines that had been damaged by frost. Wishing no disrespect to Anne-Claude, Brice’s can-do approach has re-energized the domaine without compromising the ideals of his predecessor. Still, no amount of biodynamics could allay the sturm und drang of the first six months of the 2016 growing season. “The frost was terrible for Puligny, especially for the Grand Crus, Bourgogne Blanc and Village Cru,” Brice told me, as usual attired in the smart suit of a country gent walking the dogs on a crisp October morning. “For the latter two it was a combination of frost and mildew. The frost really weakened the buds. The grand crus are 80% down in 2016, Les Pucelles around 20% down, but the rest of the premier crus are fine since the frost affected more the Chassagne part. The grand crus were at picked at 10 hectoliters per hectare and the Montrachet at just 5 hectoliters per hectare.” I will return to that infamous multi-grower blend of Montrachet later. Pierre Vincent continued: “We had the frost on 26 April but the rest of the season was quite good in terms of sanitary conditions. The maturity of the grapes went well and the summer was not too hot. The harvest began on 21 September, a rather later vintage than in recent years. Many people believe that it was a horrible year due to the frost, following good vintages in 2014 and 2015. But in reality, when you look at the wines themselves, 2016 is quite a good vintage. If it were not for the mildew it could have been fantastic."
My tasting began with two labels that I rarely taste, their Pouilly-Fuissé which comes from several parcels, one of which is destined for premier cru classification when it incepts, and their Auxey-Duresses Blanc which comes from purchased fruit. The premier crus, all raised in 20% new oak, really take off with the excellent Les Combettes, Folatières and Les Pucelles, equal to the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. And this year, the Bâtard-Montrachet demonstrated a touch more drive than the Chevalier-Montrachet, though Brice himself suggested that in several years the Chevalier will edge ahead of its bastard cousin. Hmm…let’s wait and see on that. I loved the Bâtard-Montrachet that overcame the frost damage to produce a wine of genuine tension and mineralité. Of course, there is a fourth grand cru, the 2016 Montrachet. The devastation prompted six growers to blend what survived of their Montrachet, lest they blend it into premier cru. There are just under two barrels, transferred into two stainless steel vats in the corner of Domaine Leflaive just next to the Chevalier-Montrachet. It is due to be bottled next year. “There are 500 bottles,” Brice explained. “Instead of dividing it up according to contribution with the labels of domaines [which the authorities immediately refused] we have formed a company called “L’Exceptionel Vendange de Sept Domaine” that will release and distribute the wine.” Sept? Seven? I thought there were six growers. Apparently one holding is split with a métayage, hence seven. At the moment discussions are ongoing about how the wine will be distributed.
Published: Dec 29, 2017
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Wine Spectator
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru – 2016 – Wine Spectator – 95 Points
Though rich, this white is also dense, giving a feeling of intensity to the white peach, citronella and pastry aromas and flavors. Well-proportioned, yet will require some time to really harmonize and reveal all its charms. Long, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2032.
Bruce Sanderson, August 31 2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
(92-93)
From: 2016 White Burgundy: Excellent, But Complicated (Sep 2018)
(the grand crus were not yet bottled): A touch of reduction to the aromas of yellow fruits, minerals and hazelnut; very Puligny in style. Juicy, spicy and penetrating but smooth as well, with its fine-grained texture and pineapple fruit leavened by harmonious acidity. Finishes firm, seamless and long.
- By Stephen Tanzer on May 2014
Both estate director Brice de la Morandière and winemaker Pierre Vincent consider 2016 to be a cooler year without a lot of exotic character. Grape sugars were in the reasonable 12% to 13% range (a bit lower than in 2017), and some of the less-ripe fruit got a touch of chaptalization. The 2016 grand crus were still in tank, awaiting imminent bottling, at the time of my visit on the last day of May.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet is a name that rings a bell. Chardonnay, tradition and progress come together beautifully here.
History of Domaine Leflaive
The story of Domaine Leflaive begins in the 18th century but truly takes shape in the twentieth. Joseph Leflaive, a former marine engineer, took over the family estate in 1905. After the phylloxera crisis he bought additional plots, replanted the vineyards, and started bottling under his own label. That laid the foundation for the estate as we know it today.
After his death in 1953, his sons Vincent and Jo took the lead. They strengthened the name both in Burgundy and abroad. In the 1990s Anne-Claude Leflaive stepped in. She made a bold move by converting the estate entirely to biodynamic farming. Since 2015, Brice de la Morandière, Anne-Claude’s nephew, has been in charge. He combines respect for tradition with innovations such as the sustainable cellar built in 2012.
Location in Puligny-Montrachet
Domaine Leflaive is located in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet, a small village in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. This region is known worldwide as the birthplace of Chardonnay. The limestone-rich soil and perfect exposure create wines with tension, freshness, and depth. Here everything revolves around terroir: small differences in slope or soil type give wines with their own unique character.
Grape varieties at Domaine Leflaive
The focus is entirely on Chardonnay. No red wine is made. That may sound limited, but this dedication is exactly what made the estate great. From a simple Bourgogne Blanc to the most legendary Grand Crus: all come from the same grape, yet from different parcels. This way you taste the pure differences between soil and location.
Specialities and famous vineyards
Domaine Leflaive owns parcels in some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world. Think Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. In addition, there are impressive Premier Crus such as Les Pucelles, Clavoillon, and Les Folatières. They also make a distinctive Meursault and an approachable Bourgogne Blanc. The latter comes from vineyards just outside Puligny and shows that even the entry-level wines at Leflaive carry plenty of character.
Biodynamic viticulture and cellar techniques
Since 1997 Domaine Leflaive has worked fully biodynamically. That means using natural preparations and following the rhythms of nature. No artificial chemicals, but full attention to the health of the soil. In the cellar the approach is patient: slow pressing, fermentations with minimal intervention, one year of ageing in oak barrels followed by six months in neutral vats. Since 2012 this has taken place in a remarkable cellar known as the ‘Egg Cellar’. This round building, insulated with straw and wood, is energy-efficient and designed to let the wines mature perfectly.
Interesting facts about Domaine Leflaive
- Before becoming a winegrower, Joseph Leflaive helped build the first French submarine.
- The estate’s Grand Cru Montrachet is only released after ten years of ageing in the cellar, so it can show its full complexity.
- Anne-Claude Leflaive received international acclaim as a pioneer in biodynamics and was awarded several prizes for her contribution.
Order Domaine Leflaive wines online?
At Grandcruwijnen you’ll find Domaine Leflaive wines stored in a climate-controlled Wine Warehouse. This means they’re kept under perfect conditions. When ordering online you can choose delivery or pickup in Dordrecht. If you choose pickup, you’ll see the discount immediately during checkout. Convenient and cost-saving.
Wine Trivia
🍷 Enjoyed these wine facts? Share your newfound knowledge with fellow wine enthusiasts!
Discover Wine Trivia
Sign in to unlock fascinating facts about this wine and expand your knowledge.
Sign In