Wine Advisor
Olivier Leflaive, Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières is a very nice example of the vintage, wafting from the glass with a generous bouquet of buttered apples, citrus zest, white flowers and a lavish framing of nutty new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and flavorful with a textural attack, chewy mid-palate and succulent acids. The finish is long and racy, though this is definitely a ripe, buxom rendition of Folatières which is very characteristic of the vintage. Note that this tasting note applies to the négociant bottling, as distinct from Olivier Leflaive's domaine version from the vines formerly part of Domaine Leflaive.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is a very lively and vivid wine with sliced lemon and green lime character. Green mangoes, too. Stone. Medium to full body, bright acidity and a long, vivid finish. Drink now.
About the Producer
Olivier Leflaive, is the blood from Burgundian star winemaking family – the Leflaive family, which has been rooted in Puligny Montrachet since 1717. He was co-manager of Domaine Leflaive in 1982-1994. He started to explore négociant business outside Puligny-Montrachet by Olivier Leflaive Frères. Initially he had no vineyards and bought in grapes from selected growers. In 1988 Franck Grux took over as a winemaker and still holds this role today. Over the two past decades he was able to establish a strong, long-term relationship with the best growers and the quality of the wines is outstanding. Olivier Leflaive is looking for elegance and finesse rather than power. The oak is minimal and his wines are usually attractive young. The wines are hallmarks of elegance and purity. In 2010, after several long years, Olivier and Patrick finally received their family legacy in the form of some fabulous terroirs: Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru; Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru; Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles; Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières; and Meursault 1er Cru Blagny Sous le Dos d’Âne. Today, Leflaive owns about 17 hectares of several parcels in these appellations and also in Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Les Chaumées, Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Les Vergers, Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Abbaye de Morgeot and Chassagne Montrachet Clos St Marc. Production is now around 70,000 cases across 65 different appellations, 85 percent in white wine. Included in the production are his own vineyards which cover 15 hectares in Puligny, Chassagne and Meursault. Wines which are solely from Olivier Leflaive’s own vines are marked ‘Récolte du Domaine’.
