Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru (Recolte du Domaine) 2015
Olivier Leflaive
In 1984 Olivier and Patrick Leflaive left the family business, Domaine Leflaive, to establish the negociant house that bears their name. At the same time, they agreed with their family at Domaine Leflaive that the vineyards they owned would remain under contract with the Domaine. This contract came to term in 2010 and the vineyards have now come back under the control of Olivier and Patrick Leflaive and their company, Olivier Leflaive Frères. It is a spectacular holding including parcels of Bâtard Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet Pucelles and Meursault Blagny. These holdings join the properties in Chassagne Montrachet, Abbaye de Morgeot and Clos St Marc, that have always been managed by Olivier Leflaive Frères and bring the new Domaine Olivier Leflaive to a total of close to 17 hectares, most Premier and Grand Cru. The new parcels are referred to as Recolte du Domaine and are all farmed biodynamically (as they were under the management of Domaine Leflaive). The first vintage for these new wines is 2010.
Terroir: The Grand Cru Chevalier Montrachet sits high on the hillside overlooking Le Montrachet, Bâtard Montrachet and the village of Puligny Montrachet far below. Domaine Olivier Leflaive owns a single half acre parcel running down the center of the 19 acre vineyard. Vines average more the 55 years old and are farmed biodynamically in shallow soils made up primarily of shale.
Vinification: Grapes are hand harvested and pressed as whole berries. Fermentation occurs entirely in oak barrels, 30% of which are new. Aging lasts 12 months in oak followed by an additional 5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling. The complete wines are lightly fined and filtered.
Additional Information
The texture combines power and tone, richness and delicacy. A fine wine with perfect balance. A little lighter than les Montrachet, it develops more towards a mineral wine.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Chevalier–Montrachet
- Winemaker: Franck Grux
- Sustainability: Sustainable Practices
- Soil: Shale
- Vineyard Acreage: .2 of 7.5ha
- Avg Vine Age: 55 years
- Alcohol: 12%
- Sizes Available: 750ml
- Pack Size: 6/750ml
- Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Recent Press
-
Score: 96 Points
Wine Spectator Author: Bruce Sanderson
Date: Friday, June 30, 2017This is toasty yet vibrant, boasting peach, apple and lemon flavors accented by vanilla, clove and nutmeg. All the components are here, with beautiful balance and a long, expansive aftertaste of butterscotch, smoke and mineral. Best from 2019 through 2029. -
Burghound Author: Allen Meadows
Date: Friday, June 30, 2017A beautifully layered nose offers up notes of mineral reduction, white flowers, citrus peel, essence of pear and a hint of wood. The mouth feel of the equally imposingly scaled flavors is finer than that of the Btard if not quite as powerful, all wrapped in a focused and almost painfully intense finish that delivers seriously good length. This is presently quite linear and it seems clear that its going to require extended cellaring to arrive at its peakGrade: 92-95 Points
