2018 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

Type of Wine | White |
---|---|
Country | France |
Region | |
Appellation | |
Winery | Domaine Leflaive |
Vintage | 2018 |
Grape | |
Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
Drink window | 2026 - 2050 |
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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.
Bâtard-Montrachet is one of the most renowned Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, located between the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. The vineyard shares its name and reputation with the famous Le Montrachet and is known for producing powerful and complex wines.
The 2018 vintage was characterized by a warm and dry growing season, resulting in healthy and perfectly ripe grapes. These conditions led to wines with concentrated flavors and balanced acidity.
Tasting notes 2018 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Colour : Clear golden yellow.
Nose: Aromas of peach, apple, lemon and bakery spices, with hints of white flowers and beeswax.
Taste: Full and concentrated, with flavours of ripe fruit, toasted almonds and a hint of vanilla. The wine is powerful and elegant, with a silky texture and a lively acidity that provides balance.
Finish: Long and complex, with lingering notes of fruit and subtle spice.
FACT: 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 | 2018 |
Drinking as of | 2026 |
Drinking till | 2050 |
Alcohol % | 13.5 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 95 |
James Suckling rating | 93 |
Vinous rating | 97 |
Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
Drink moments | Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95
Reviewed by:
William Kelley
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2027 - 2050
Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a textural, elegantly muscular wine evocative of pear, toasted almonds, white flowers, peach and vanilla pod. Layered and powerful, it concludes with a long, saline finish. It's more dramatic and broader-shouldered than the suave, seamless Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet this year.
This year, I met with Brice de La Morandière and Pierre Vincent to taste not unfinished 2019s but rather the Domaine's 2018s from bottle—a change in the estate's policy that I warmly encourage and support—and I found the wines showing very well indeed. As I wrote last year, while many producers along the Côte de Beaune were inclined to accept the generous yields of the 2018 as nature's gift, arguing that Chardonnay can sustain an elevated crop without suffering dilution, de La Morandière and Vincent opted to perform an aggressive green harvest, jettisoning around 40% of the potential crop. "I'm glad we have something to show for it," remarked de La Morandière when I complimented the concentration of the domaine's Combettes. As usual, the wines fermented and matured in barrel before finishing their élevage in stainless steel tanks on the lees, and they were bottled under Diam with some 25 parts per million free sulfur dioxide. As is the case in Chardonnay along the Côte de Beaune in the 2018 vintage, the appellation hierarchy does make itself felt—I tend to think that low yields efface some of the disadvantages of humbler sites, whereas large crops exaggerate them—but the highest appellation bottlings here are really quite serious; and, having evoked the comparison with Leflaive's superb 1982 vintage when I tasted them from barrel last year, I continue to think that they will blossom beautifully with bottle age.
Published: Jan 14, 2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
No written review available.
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
(95-97)
Drinking Window
2022 - 2050
From: 2018 Burgundy: Confounded Expectations (Jan 2020)
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a touch more pungency compared to the Bienvenue, but perhaps not quite the same alluring charm, at least at this primordial stage. The palate is where it’s at: supremely well balanced, exuding a sense of coiled-up energy countered by a dense, persistent finish. A bit of a beast, but time will tame it.
- By Neal Martin on October 2019
I met proprietor Brice de la Morandière with winemaker Pierre Vincent , who joined in 2017 from Domaine de la Vougeraie, at their barrel cellar in Puligny-Montrachet. It was nice to return having not visited for a year or two. "It was a warm year," de la Morandière commented. "The crucial decision was that we green harvested all the vineyards in July, sometimes up to 40% of the bunches. I know that this is considered a sin in Puligny-Montrachet, but the fact is that we had two or three times more bunches than we needed. This risked us losing concentration. We commenced the harvest on 26 August and finished on September, the Mâcon-Verze picked from 3 to 10 September. In the end, we found that the balance was good in terms of alcohol and acidity." I was pleased to taste Leflaive's Mâconnais wines - they are often overshadowed by their Pulignys and might well constitute their best values. The standout for me was their stunning Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes, in no small part since it was affected by millerandage and this naturally seems to have concentrated the wine. Among the Grand Crus, the Chevalier-Montrachet predictably has the edge, though do not overlook their rather splendid Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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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.
Bâtard-Montrachet is one of the most renowned Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, located between the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. The vineyard shares its name and reputation with the famous Le Montrachet and is known for producing powerful and complex wines.
The 2018 vintage was characterized by a warm and dry growing season, resulting in healthy and perfectly ripe grapes. These conditions led to wines with concentrated flavors and balanced acidity.
Tasting notes 2018 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Colour : Clear golden yellow.
Nose: Aromas of peach, apple, lemon and bakery spices, with hints of white flowers and beeswax.
Taste: Full and concentrated, with flavours of ripe fruit, toasted almonds and a hint of vanilla. The wine is powerful and elegant, with a silky texture and a lively acidity that provides balance.
Finish: Long and complex, with lingering notes of fruit and subtle spice.
FACT: 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 | 2018 |
Drinking as of | 2026 |
Drinking till | 2050 |
Alcohol % | 13.5 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 95 |
James Suckling rating | 93 |
Vinous rating | 97 |
Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rond, Vol, Wit fruit |
Drink moments | Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95
Reviewed by:
William Kelley
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2027 - 2050
Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a textural, elegantly muscular wine evocative of pear, toasted almonds, white flowers, peach and vanilla pod. Layered and powerful, it concludes with a long, saline finish. It's more dramatic and broader-shouldered than the suave, seamless Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet this year.
This year, I met with Brice de La Morandière and Pierre Vincent to taste not unfinished 2019s but rather the Domaine's 2018s from bottle—a change in the estate's policy that I warmly encourage and support—and I found the wines showing very well indeed. As I wrote last year, while many producers along the Côte de Beaune were inclined to accept the generous yields of the 2018 as nature's gift, arguing that Chardonnay can sustain an elevated crop without suffering dilution, de La Morandière and Vincent opted to perform an aggressive green harvest, jettisoning around 40% of the potential crop. "I'm glad we have something to show for it," remarked de La Morandière when I complimented the concentration of the domaine's Combettes. As usual, the wines fermented and matured in barrel before finishing their élevage in stainless steel tanks on the lees, and they were bottled under Diam with some 25 parts per million free sulfur dioxide. As is the case in Chardonnay along the Côte de Beaune in the 2018 vintage, the appellation hierarchy does make itself felt—I tend to think that low yields efface some of the disadvantages of humbler sites, whereas large crops exaggerate them—but the highest appellation bottlings here are really quite serious; and, having evoked the comparison with Leflaive's superb 1982 vintage when I tasted them from barrel last year, I continue to think that they will blossom beautifully with bottle age.
Published: Jan 14, 2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
No written review available.
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
(95-97)
Drinking Window
2022 - 2050
From: 2018 Burgundy: Confounded Expectations (Jan 2020)
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a touch more pungency compared to the Bienvenue, but perhaps not quite the same alluring charm, at least at this primordial stage. The palate is where it’s at: supremely well balanced, exuding a sense of coiled-up energy countered by a dense, persistent finish. A bit of a beast, but time will tame it.
- By Neal Martin on October 2019
I met proprietor Brice de la Morandière with winemaker Pierre Vincent , who joined in 2017 from Domaine de la Vougeraie, at their barrel cellar in Puligny-Montrachet. It was nice to return having not visited for a year or two. "It was a warm year," de la Morandière commented. "The crucial decision was that we green harvested all the vineyards in July, sometimes up to 40% of the bunches. I know that this is considered a sin in Puligny-Montrachet, but the fact is that we had two or three times more bunches than we needed. This risked us losing concentration. We commenced the harvest on 26 August and finished on September, the Mâcon-Verze picked from 3 to 10 September. In the end, we found that the balance was good in terms of alcohol and acidity." I was pleased to taste Leflaive's Mâconnais wines - they are often overshadowed by their Pulignys and might well constitute their best values. The standout for me was their stunning Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes, in no small part since it was affected by millerandage and this naturally seems to have concentrated the wine. Among the Grand Crus, the Chevalier-Montrachet predictably has the edge, though do not overlook their rather splendid Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet.
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