France · Burgundy · Cote de Beaune · Puligny Montrachet White · Still · wine-wine · 1073368
Lowest offer: 687.2633333333333333333333333 GBP (Buy)
Offers: 45 · Bids: 0
| Price / case | Vintage | Packing | Qty | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20900.00 GBP | 1998 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1882.25 EUR | 2004 | 2 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 53295.00 HKD | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 135432.00 HKD | 2005 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 27901.50 HKD | 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 58938.00 HKD | 2008 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 5538.50 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5329.50 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5277.27 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5883.65 GBP | 2009 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5434.00 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5058.85 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5434.00 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 7 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5434.00 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 7 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 61237.00 HKD | 2010 | 1 x 3L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 5160.02 GBP | 2010 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 57997.50 HKD | 2011 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 57997.50 HKD | 2011 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 4807.00 GBP | 2011 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 4807.00 GBP | 2011 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2967.80 GBP | 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2061.79 GBP | 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2299.00 GBP | 2013 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2257.20 GBP | 2013 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2023.54 GBP | 2014 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 15675.00 HKD | 2014 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 2984.00 GBP | 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2835.11 GBP | 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 80883.00 HKD | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 59565.00 HKD | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 2299.00 GBP | 2017 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2821.50 GBP | 2017 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 32541.30 HKD | 2017 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 85836.30 HKD | 2017 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 2743.13 GBP | 2018 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 58499.10 HKD | 2018 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 70171.75 HKD | 2019 | 1 x 3L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1150.55 GBP | 2019 | 1 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 43733.25 HKD | 2019 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 8384.71 GBP | 2020 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 59565.00 HKD | 2020 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 28215.00 HKD | 2021 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 2351.25 GBP | 2021 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 10993.40 HKD | 2022 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 32980.20 HKD | 2022 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
No active bids.
| Vintage | Packing | Offers | Bids | Market price | WA rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 133991.40 | 91 |
| 1990 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 66995.70 | 91 |
| 1991 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 112632.00 | |
| 1991 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 28158.00 | |
| 1991 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 56316.00 | |
| 1992 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 97 | |
| 1993 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 123237.24 | |
| 1993 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 30809.31 | |
| 1993 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 61618.62 | |
| 1994 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 215316.24 | |
| 1994 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 53829.06 | |
| 1994 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 107658.12 | |
| 1997 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 1997 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 89048.04 | 93 |
| 1997 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 22262.01 | 93 |
| 1997 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 44524.02 | 93 |
| 1998 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 89 | |
| 2000 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 92 | |
| 2001 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 10554.66 | 89 |
| 2001 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 126655.92 | 89 |
| 2002 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 2003 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 183330.48 | 91 |
| 2004 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 87375.84 | 89 |
| 2004 | 2 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 89 | |
| 2004 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 43687.92 | 89 |
| 2004 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 89 | |
| 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 89 | |
| 2005 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 136439.52 | |
| 2005 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 34109.88 | |
| 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 68219.76 | |
| 2006 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 118417.68 | |
| 2006 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 118417.68 | |
| 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 59208.84 | |
| 2007 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 2007 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 136800.60 | 93 |
| 2007 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 68400.30 | 93 |
| 2007 | 3 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 136800.60 | 93 |
| 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 68400.30 | 93 |
| 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 45797.72 | |
| 2008 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 137393.16 | |
| 2008 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 68696.58 | |
| 2008 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 137393.16 | |
| 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | 0 | 68696.58 | |
| 2009 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 10834.58 | 96 |
| 2009 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 130014.96 | 96 |
| 2009 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 65007.48 | 96 |
| 2009 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 32503.74 | 96 |
| 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | 0 | 65007.48 | 96 |
| 2010 | 1 x 3L | 1 | 0 | 97 | |
| 2010 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 128127.36 | 97 |
| 2010 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 64063.68 | 97 |
| 2010 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 32031.84 | 97 |
| 2010 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 64063.68 | 97 |
| 2011 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 49315.08 | 95 |
| 2011 | 3 x 1.5L | 2 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2011 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2011 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 24657.54 | 95 |
| 2012 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 124168.32 | 94 |
| 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 31042.08 | 94 |
| 2013 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 121077.36 | 95 |
| 2013 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2013 | 3 x 75cl | 3 | 0 | 30269.34 | 95 |
| 2013 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 121077.36 | 95 |
| 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 60538.68 | 95 |
| 2014 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 92 | |
| 2014 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 47035.84 | 92 |
| 2014 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 11758.96 | 92 |
| 2014 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 141107.52 | 92 |
| 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 35276.88 | 92 |
| 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 70553.76 | 92 |
| 2015 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2015 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 38124.20 | 96 |
| 2015 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 114372.60 | 96 |
| 2015 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 28593.15 | 96 |
| 2015 | 4 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 57186.30 | 96 |
| 2016 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 22739.88 | 95 |
| 2016 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 68219.64 | 95 |
| 2016 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 17054.91 | 95 |
| 2016 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 34109.82 | 95 |
| 2017 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2017 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 44770.60 | 96 |
| 2017 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 11192.65 | 96 |
| 2017 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 134311.80 | 96 |
| 2017 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 33577.95 | 96 |
| 2017 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 67155.90 | 96 |
| 2018 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2018 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 41126.48 | 95 |
| 2018 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 10281.62 | 95 |
| 2018 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 123379.44 | 95 |
| 2018 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2018 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 30844.86 | 95 |
| 2018 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 61689.72 | 95 |
| 2019 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2019 | 1 x 3L | 1 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2019 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2019 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2019 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2020 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2020 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 13275.01 | 96 |
| 2020 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 159300.12 | 96 |
| 2020 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 39825.03 | 96 |
| 2020 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 79650.06 | 96 |
| 2021 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 165037.32 | |
| 2021 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 41259.33 | |
| 2021 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 |
Rating: 94 –94
Pale bright yellow. Sexy perfume of lemon, lime, clove and white flowers. A step up in weight and power from the Bienvenue, but still with lovely lift to the generous flavors of ripe peach and spices. Wonderfully energetic, tactile wine with terrific rising length and grip, and a late mineral character that contributes finesse. But this big, rich, backward Batard will need time to express itself.
Rating: 92 –94
Pure, nuanced nose offers orange oil, hazelnut, almond and smoke. Rich and broad in the mouth, but with a surprisingly light touch to the rather powerful pineapple and orange blossom flavors. Quite fine and not at all heavy (this is 13.1% alcohol after a bit of chaptalization) thanks to firm underlying energy. Builds subtly and slowly on the firm back end. Evolving slowly.
Rating: 93 –93
Pale, bright yellow. Deeper-pitched on the nose than the Bienvenues-Bâtard and a bit reduced, offering aromas of ripe peach, smoke and minerals. Fat on entry, then powerful and unevolved in the middle palate, with strong pineappley acidity keeping the wine from coming off as heavy. Finishes adamantly dry and firm, with a dusty tannic quality and a note of menthol. This wine is evolving very slowly and will need serious cellaring.
Rating: 91 –94
(13.6% alcohol, with 4.15 g/l total acidity): Bright pale yellow. Expressive nose combines fresh pineapple, stone and white flowers, plus a complicating leesy nuance. Richer, riper and broader-shouldered than the Bienvenue, conveying an impression of density and solidity. A touch more tannic and warm but not heavy on the long aftertaste, this full-bodied grand cru avoids coming off as heavy.
Rating: 93 –93
The 2005 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a terrific bouquet, very steely and tense. Previous bottles have tasted richer but this is almost Zen-like! The palate is fresh, taut and linear. It comes armed with a huge amount of concentration, but on this showing it would benefit from another five years in bottle! Be patient. Tasted at the 1243 Club in Beaune.
Rating: 93 –93
Explosive aromas of ripe stone fruits, flowers and honey. Fatter, thicker and sweeter than the more elegant Bienvenues but less precise today. A classic round, rich, full and highly concentrated 2005 with strong extract and plenty of alcohol. This big boy will need a solid decade of cellaring to burn off some of its baby fat and achieve its adult shape.
Rating: 91 –93
Powerful aromas of peach, spices and truffle. Big, rich and ripe (part of the fruit here reached 14.7% natural alcohol, the highest at the estate, and the blend is now about 14.2%), with slightly elevated alcohol. Avoids coming off as heavy, but the finish shows a slight bitter edge in comparison to the Bienvenue.
Rating: 92 –95
Pale yellow. Less expressive on the nose than the Bienvenue, conveying a honeyed ripeness and a hint of resiny oak. Then tightly clenched in the mouth, with a penetrating orange juice flavor dominating. Not at all a fat wine, this is hard to taste today and needs time to expand. Its power suggests that it will evolve slowly.
Rating: 95 –97
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.
Rating: 96 –96
(bottled in mid-May): Bright lemon-yellow. Deeper-pitched than the Pucelles, with nectarine and spice flavors complicated by leesy and smoky nuances. Big, rich and sweet, with peach and smoke flavors lifted by high notes of grapefruit and jasmine and enlivened by bracing acidity. Best today on the penetrating, rising finish, where the wine's grapefruit cut leaves the mouth refreshed. Great potential here, but in need of at least eight years of aging.
Rating: 93 –95
Bright medium yellow. Sexy aromas of peach, nectarine and brown spices, plus hints of wild cherry and fraise des bois. Quite full, rich and powerful, with a distinctly tactile quality to the saline iodine and mineral flavors. This ripe, brooding wine finishes with inexorable persistence. This has 13.45% alcohol and a post-malo pH of 3.1, according to Eric Remy.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is more powerful, unwinding in the glass with aromas of pear, ripe citrus fruit, peach, buttery pastry and baking spices. Full-bodied, satiny and multidimensional, it's a broad, muscular wine with racy acids and a long, saline finish.
Rating: 95 –95
The 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has turned out very well indeed, offering up aromas of pear, orange oil, white flowers, nutmeg and freshly baked bread, framed by a subtle touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, satiny and elegantly muscular, it's racy and concentrated, with more mid-palate plenitude and chalky structure than the more delicate Bienvenues.
Rating: 95 –95
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.
Rating: 94 –96
The 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is powerful and muscular, opening in the glass with notions of orange oil, peach, white flowers, beeswax and warm bread. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and introverted, with a broad-shouldered, textural profile, serious reserves of concentration and lively balancing acids, concluding with a saline finish.
Rating: 92 –94
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a more masculine, introspective and earthier bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The strictness and focus here are superb. The palate is very well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. There is good tension, saline and spicy in the mouth, animated even. Whilst it does not quite deliver the persistence at the moment, by the time it is in bottle that should be in situ. This is a very impressive Bâtard-Montrachet.
Rating: 96 –96
The Leflaive 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a superb achievement in the 2015 vintage, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of white peach, fresh bread, pear, preserved citrus, beeswax and crisp yellow orchard fruit. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, multidimensional and authoritative, distinguished by its sense of completeness and control, with terrific depth and amplitude and a long, reserved finish. The Bâtard is one of the high-points of the Leflaive range this year, fully realizing the potential of the vintage.
Rating: 90 –92
The 2014 Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has a more powerful bouquet than the Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet, very energetic with fresh pear, white peach and citrus fruit. The palate is nicely balanced but does not quite offer the detail and precision of the Bienvenue at the moment. It's a grand cru that will hopefully up its game by the time of bottling, because on this showing, it is surpassed by the 2014 Bienvenue.
Rating: 92 –92
The 2014 Batard Montrachet Grand Cru was a wine that did not quite set my world of fire when I tasted it from vat last year when I preferred the Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet. Reacquainting myself with the wine in bottle, I was not convinced to alter that opinion. Leaving it to open for 5-10 minutes in the glass, the grand cru does open up with fresh pear and white peach scents, overtaken by granitic aromas over several minutes. The palate is clean and fresh on the entry with an attractive spicy, white pepper note in the background that comes forward towards the finish that offers commendable weight. What it lacks is just a bit of tension and energy, while I found just as much persistence but no more than the 2014 Les Pucelles. Perhaps it will improve down the line as Bâtard-Montrachet always does, but compared not only to its peers but to the 2015 as well, this just falls a little short. Tasted December 2016.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2010 Batard-Montrachet covers every inch of the palate with fruit. In 2010, the Batard is towering, statuesque and simply impeccable. Today the aromas and flavors are not at all developed, rather the wine is really all about textural elegance and finesse, and there is plenty of that here. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. The Batard is a wine of contrasts. At times it is quite bold and extroverted, at others it possesses admirable restraint. Either way, it is magnificent. Anticipated maturity: 2020+. Estate Manager Eric Remy has one of the sharpest memories of anyone I have ever met. His recall of specific dates and events is quite remarkable, so I will take advantage of that in reporting a very complete picture of the 2010 growing season. Accoring to Remy, in order to gain some insight on 2010, one has to start with the brutal frost of December 19, 2009, when temperatures dropped to a bone chilling -20C/-4F after having hovered around freezing for a few days prior. The very next day, temperatures shot up to 10C/50F. January was quite dry. A bit of snow fell in early February, but the rest of the month was dry. The last frosts at the domaine were recorded from March 10-14. The weather improved in April, especially towards the end of the month. May and June were cold. Flowering in the domine’s vineyards started on June 5th and ended between June 20 and 22. The first part of July was hot but stable, while the second part of the month was cold and humid. Unstable conditions persisted throughout August. A hailstorm with heavy thunder in Santenay on September 12 was a sign harvest time was approaching. A bit of botrytis was recorded on September 17. The harvest started on September 20. Yields came in around 45 hectoliters per hectare, pretty much in line with 2009, the only domaine I visited where that is the case. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 96 –96
The 2009 Batard-Montrachet positively explodes from the glass. Round, sweet and expressive, the wine saturates the palate with masses of fruit in a bold, powerful style that is utterly irresistible. The finish is intense and resonant in all directions. Remy notes that the Batard is the only 2009 above 14% in alcohol. Anticipated maturity: 2017+. Domaine Leflaive is one of the pioneers in biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy. The first experiments began in 1990 and by 1997 all of the vineyards had been converted to biodynamic farming. Winemaker Eric Remy describes the 2009 growing season in considerable detail. The winter was long but mild. The last frost occurred on March 23. Temperatures were normal until the last week of the month, when the weather turned warmer. Flowering began on May 22. The rest of the spring and summer were warm, while a big storm in mid-July dropped 8cm of rain. The rest of the summer was quite warm. The harvest began on September 5, about ten days earlier than normal. Average yields were around 45 hectoliters per hectare. The wines were aged for 12 months in oak followed by 6-8 months in steel. New oak ranged from 10% for the Bourgogne, 15% for the villages, 20% for the premier crus and 25% for the grand crus. The 2009s were bottled between April and June 2011. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 95 –95
Tasted out of stainless-steel tank at the Domaine. The Batard-Montrachet has a very complex bouquet with scents of white peach, pear, limestone and dried honey. Powerful and gaining intensity in the glass. The palate is quite rich and very dense on the entry, layers of mineral-rich green fruit, dew-speckled green apples, watermelon, grapefruit and a touch of spice towards the long, dare I say, explosive finish. Superb. Tasted January 2011.
Rating: 92 –94
Tasted at the Domaine. Compared to the Bienvenue, there is a lot more vinosity on the nose here, but builds with aeration to reveal notes of granite, green apple that engaging aroma of a dewy mountainside. The palate is more introverted but more complex than the Bienvenue, beautifully defined, superb tension and poise with just a hint of hazelnut on the citrus finish. As usual, giving little away now, but certainly very refined. Drink 2012-2025. Tasted January 2009.
Rating: 93 –93
Pineapple, mandarin; hibiscus and orange blossom mark the nose of the Leflaive 2007 Batard-Montrachet. Honey, bittersweet citrus oil, marmalade, apricot preserves, and liquid floral perfume create a sense of seductive ripeness matched by textural opulence. But this lacks the nuance, lift, or intriguing mineral dimension of the Bienvenues-Batard or the Pucelles. A pungent smokiness clings to its bittersweet finish. I imagine this being slightly less age-worthy than the two aforementioned crus, but only time will tell. Departing from the script of most vignerons I visited, Leflaive cellar master Eric Remy (who took over last year from Pierre Morey, with whom he has worked for several years) claimed his 2007 fruit – which he began picking September 1 – harbored a 2:1 ratio of tartaric to malic acidity (whereas, he adds, it was close to reversed in 2006). While some crop was lost to hail – particularly in Chevalier-Montrachet – Remy did not think this affected quality, and he had the same attitude toward mildew (combated here with biodynamic methods), which he said did not compromise the fruit. Alcohol levels largely hover below 14%, that is to say lower – regardless of cru – than any of the 2006s. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 91 –91
The nose is very closed with faint scents of minerals, granite and limestone. Very compact. The palate is well balanced with good acidity and weight, extremely tight, lacking the fanning out of flavours that I find on the Puligny Village. A very fine Batard but I am looking for more. Tasted February 2007.
Rating: 91 –91
This has a very minerally nose, beautiful definition, touches of chalk dust. The palate is medium-bodied, good acidity, touches of citrus lemon, cooking apple and passion fruit, not quite as minerally as the nose, but there is a lovely kick of acidity on the finish and more crushed stones coming through on the aftertaste. Drink now-2018. Tasted November 2009.
Rating: 89 –89
The 2004 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru from Anne-Claude is creamy, generous and lightly honeyed, but in my opinion is in want of more terroir expression and delineation. It actually seems quite advanced for its age and status. The palate is powerful and quite viscous in the mouth with vanilla and honey notes, but again, it does not really express what Batard is all about. For sure, a pleasurable wine, but it is missing intellectual rigor. Drink now-2017.
Rating: 94 –96
A very intense nose, incredible definition and nervosity. A touch of mint lurking in there somewhere? The palate is very harmonious with lemon and apply fruits inter-twined with racy acidity. Still closed and broody at the moment but very very long. 10+ years.
Rating: 94 –94
The 1999 Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru from Domaine Leflaive is blessed with a stunning gunflint nose that soars from the glass. It is supremely well controlled and actually shows up the 1999 Chevalier-Montrachet tasted alongside. The palate is rich in the glass with light honeyed tones intermingling with lime, marzipan and citrus lemon. As you would expect, there is superb mineralité locked into this wine, though it is expressed more aromatically than on the palate. Still, it is a deeply impressive wine and it should continue to give pleasure over the next decade at least.
Rating: 97 –97
White Burgundy really does not get better than this. A stunning minerally nose, quintessential Anne-Claude Leflaive at her best with scents of wet stones, limestone and granite. Brilliant definition. The palate is taut, tense, vibrant acidity, nigh perfect balance with a Zen-like finish. Astonishingly good, probably the best Batard from Anne-Claude that I have tasted. Tasted February 2008.
Rating: 90 –91
The 1999 Batard-Montrachet reveals intense, sweet, mineral and white fruit aromas. Medium-bodied, well-structured, and tightly wound, it is rich, concentrated, and fresh. This mineral, apple, and pear-flavored wine should be at its peak of maturity between 2002 and 2010. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-9661.
Rating: 97 –97
Millionaires should have fun debating whether the 1992 Batard-Montrachet or Chevalier-Montrachet is superior. The Batard is the more evolved and precocious of the two. Both are beautifully well-knit, expansively flavored, full-bodied, super-concentrated white burgundies that display honeyed, orange, roasted nut, overripe apple-scented noses, buttery, creamy textures, super extraction of flavor, and long finishes. The Batard exhibits more mineral scents in its nose and flavors, and is more upfront. The Chevalier-Montrachet appears to be holding more in reserve than the Batard. The Chevalier explodes on the back of the palate and looks to have greater longevity. Both are beautifully well-knit, expansively flavored, full-bodied, super-concentrated white burgundies that display honeyed, orange, roasted nut, overripe apple-scented noses, buttery, creamy textures, super extraction of flavor, and long finishes. The Domaine Leflaive has enjoyed many successful vintages over the years - 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1989 come to mind immediately - but the 1992s are the finest young wines this domaine has produced. Yields averaged 45 hectoliters per hectare, far below most recent vintages. The wines are renowned for their purity and elegance, but the 1992s also display a special level of richness and intensity. Importer: Frederick Wildman & Co., New York, NY.
Rating: 97 –97
Going golden in colour, this is classic mature white Burgundy with a bouquet of buttered toast, creme caramel, crushed hazelnuts and dried mango plus a hint of preserved mandarin peel. The palate is very rich and seductive with a pleasant oiliness to the texture and a long finish of savoury layers. It’s in its prime right now.
Rating: 94 –94
Tasted in Hong Kong. This totally dominated the rather enervated Chevalier ’66 served alongside. A truly great vintage for the domaine, the Batard does not disappoint with supreme delineation on the mineral-rich bouquet, although not quite as crystalline as the Chevalier ’92 opened last year. Fragrant aromas of linden, citrus lemon, wet limestone and apricot-blossom emerge. The palate is beautifully balanced with secondary tertiary notes emerging with time. Very harmonious on the candied finish…a beautiful Grand Cru. Tasted November 2011.
Rating: 91 –91
Importer: Frederick Wildman & Co., New York, NY. No further tasting note.
Rating: 93 –93
The 1989 Batard-Montrachet is more developed, richer, and intense than even the 1989 Chevalier-Montrachet. In a decade, the Chevalier will be the better wine. The Batard possesses a gorgeous aroma of oranges, flowers, butter, and minerals. In the mouth, it is pure buttery fruit supported admirably by crisp acidity and a deft touch of toasty new oak. A big wine by the Leflaive's standards, it should drink magnificently for at least 10-12 years. Although Leflaive's 1989s are top-notch, they are not as dramatic as one would expect from a vintage with the taste profile of 1989. I am not even sure if Leflaive's 1989s are as brilliant as their 1985s or 1986s. All of the great Burgundy domaines have a certain signature to their wines that is more recognizable than any perceived terroir character. In the case of the Domaine Leflaive (a reference point for all who cherish the finest in Chardonnay) that personality is one of uncompromising elegance, finesse, and purity of flavor. Anyone who has visited Leflaive has seen more water hoses than owned by the local fire department. Why? This is a domaine maniacal about pristine conditions in the cellars. The results, even in lighter vintages such as 1987, are admirable. The finest wines, of course, are the grands crus, but the biggest sleepers of the firm are the delicate Puligny-Montrachet-Les Pucelles and the fatter, richer, more husky Puligny-Montrachet-Les Combettes. Importer: Frederick Wildman and Co., New York, NY.
Rating: 96 –96
The 1985 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru was poured from bottle whereas the 1985 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet served alongside came from magnum. However, the terroir showed through, and this was probably the better of the two wines. It clearly possessed more intensity than the Bienvenue with scents of struck flint, granite and smoke. There is laser-like precision here. The palate does not disappoint: beautifully balanced with a keen line of acidity that effortlessly offsets the richness and the slight viscosity, especially towards the finish. This is a gorgeous Bâtard-Montrachet, yet another mature white Burgundy that perhaps served as a reminder of the cost of premature oxidation. Tasted November 2016.
Rating: 86 –86
Last Tasted 8/92 Monolithic and heavy, Leflaive's 1983 Batard-Montrachet is an atypical wine from this domaine. The medium golden color and a lack of freshness make for a robust, somewhat flabby style of white burgundy that warrants consumption over the next several years.
Rating: 88 –90
A limpid green/straw colour. A wonderful nose of lime, whipped cream and vanilla pod. Good acidity and balance on the palate, with that touch of vanilla pod coming through and a surprising petrolly mid-palate. Not a complex wine, perhaps a little rustic but enjoyable all the same. Drink now. Tasted 7/00
Rating: 83 –83
Last Tasted 7/92 Fading quickly, Leflaive's 1982 Batard-Montrachet was more enjoyable during its first 5-6 years of life. It has now lost much of its graceful bouquet and the fruit appears to be drying out. What remains is a relatively acidic, lean wine. This performance may be typical of Leflaive's other 1982s. About six months ago I had their 1982 Puligny-Montrachet-Les Pucelles (which I had loved when it was young) and found it to be flat and disappointing.
Rating: 95 –95
Pale, green-tinged yellow. Knockout nose combines musky pineapple, lime and powdered stone; seems less exotic than the 2008. Wonderfully silky on entry, then explosively ripe and sweet in the middle, with powerful, palate-staining flavors of lime and flowers. Very rich and impeccably balanced, with its sweetness perfectly countered by firm buffering acidity. A great showing for this extremely long grand cru.
Rating: 91 –94
Pale, bright yellow. Aromas of peach, spices, nut oils and charred oak. Full, sweet and chewy, with a sexy leesy complexity, excellent balance and solid underlying structure. Plenty ripe but not overly powerful. Finishes pure, minerally and impressively long. A lovely Batard in the making, and showing better today than the Bienvenues.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2009 Bâtard-Montrachet positively explodes from the glass. Round, sweet and expressive, the wine saturates the palate with masses of fruit in a bold, powerful style that is utterly irresistible. The finish is intense and resonant in all directions. Remy notes that the Bâtard is the only 2009 above 14% in alcohol.
Rating: 95 –95
Bright, green-tinged yellow. Lime, powdered stone and mint on the nose, along with a buttery nuance. Dense, saline, sappy and intensely flavored; offers very good cut for a wine with such breadth and richness. The white peach and lime tea flavors are complemented by a hint of exotic fruits. Much more powerful and chewy than the Bienvenue (this is 13.5% alcohol), not to mention more structured. Finishes with a whiplash of mirabelle, honey and jasmine.
Rating: 93 –96
Pale yellow; based on color alone this seems riper than the Bienvenues, which is from an adjacent parcel. Aromas of peach, white flowers and linden tea, plus a hint of honey. Then rich, ripe and opulent in the mouth, boasting a much more silky texture, and greater power, than the Bienvenues (there's less topsoil here). Shows the sugar/acid balance of a perfectly ripe peach. Flavors of pear and tilleul contribute complexity to this succulent and fleshy wine.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2010 Bâtard-Montrachet covers every inch of the palate with fruit. In 2010, the Bâtard is towering, statuesque and simply impeccable. Today the aromas and flavors are not at all developed, rather the wine is really all about textural elegance and finesse, and there is plenty of that here. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. The Bâtard is a wine of contrasts. At times it is quite bold and extroverted, at others it possesses admirable restraint. Either way, it is magnificent.
Rating: 94 –94
(bottled two weeks before my visit; 13.4% alcohol, vs. 13% for the Bienvenue): Bright, green-tinged yellow. Captivating aromas of white peach, pineapple, curry powder, medicinal herbs and musky lees. Sappy, chewy and dry, but completely locked up following the bottling and showing much less personality than the nose suggests. But this wonderfully tactile, fine-grained wine finishes with outstanding tangy persistence. This, too, will need a decade in the cellar.
Rating: 92 –95
(malo done): Bright yellow. Sexy nose combines lemon, lime, crushed stone, fresh herbs and suggestions of nut oil and honey. Sappy and dense but at the same time elegant, with a light touch to the broad, mouthcoating flavors. Perfectly integrated acidity and a lively orange oil note give this grand cru a captivating piquancy. Beautifully balanced and very long.
Rating: 93 –93
Deeper-pitched on the nose than the Bienvenue, offering musky, slightly reduced scents of very ripe peach and grilled nuts. Sweet, large-scaled and powerful but youthfully laid-back today. More tannic than the Bienvenue but the firm finishing flavors of pear and minerals titillate the retronasal passage. Still a baby.
Rating: 92 –95
(the alcohol here is a tad over 13%, including about 0.25% of chaptalization, according to Eric Remy): Healthy bright yellow. Expressive perfume of yellow fruits, flowers and clove oil. Very ripe and suave, showing plenty of weight but a distinctly feminine element of finesse to the flavors of apple, pear, menthol and minerals accented by spices. Quite round in the middle palate but the very long finish displays good grip and even a somewhat muscular quality.
Rating: 93 –93
Pale yellow with green highlights. Deeper and leesier on the nose than the Bienvenues, with ripe peach and hazelnut aromas complicated by sexy reduction. Large-scaled and powerful but not heavy, and totally different in style from the Bienvenues. Thick, plump and adamantly dry, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the wine's very ripe stone fruit and pineapple flavors. In a rather masculine style and not yet explosive, rather like a barrel sample. The phenolic, firmly structured finish leaves behind citrus and mineral notes.
Rating: 93 –95
Bright, pale yellow. Deeply pitched, slightly reduced aromas of stone fruits, pineapple and honey. Fatter and sweeter than the Bienvenue, then broader and more powerful on the back half, showing a ripe pineapple character but coming across as bone-dry. Less harmonious than the Bienvenue and a bit more phenolic on the back end. This wine will need a good seven or eight years of cellaring.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru shows a little more clarity, a touch more crystalline on the nose compared to the Bienvenue, scents of Granny Smith apples, petrichor and gunflint. It is controlled and penetrating. The palate is extremely well balanced with a fine silver bead of acidity that cuts through the concentrated malic fruit, a dash of pepper towards the finish that fans out gloriously, sour lemon and grapefruit lingering on the aftertaste. Wonderful. Closure: Diam 30
Rating: 96 –96
The 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is more backward on the nose compared to the Bienvenue at the moment despite rigorous coaxing. The palate has impressive weight and density, perhaps less finesse than the more approachable Bienvenue at the moment but with more aging potential. It feels long on the saline finish, but it's surly at this early stage.
Rating: 93 –95
The 2016 Batard Montrachet Grand Cru was vinified together rather than in four different parcels due to the frost (in fact one plot was pulled out). It has a much more involving and expressive bouquet compared to the Bienvenues. The palate is slightly viscous on the entry countered by a keen thread of acidity, not as tensile as the Bienvenues but surprisingly richer than one would have expected, with traces of wild honey toward the caressing finish. This may well turn out to be the pick of Leflaive's 2016s.
Rating: 96 –96
The Leflaive 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a superb achievement in the 2015 vintage, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of white peach, fresh bread, pear, preserved citrus, beeswax and crisp yellow orchard fruit. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, multidimensional and authoritative, distinguished by its sense of completeness and control, with terrific depth and amplitude and a long, reserved finish. The Bâtard is one of the high-points of the Leflaive range this year, fully realizing the potential of the vintage.
Rating: 94 –96
The 2017 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru unfurls in the glass with a reticent bouquet of lemon rind, citrus, hazelnut cream, white flowers and mandarin oil. On the palate, it's full-bodied, both denser and blockier than the Bienvenues-Bâtard, with exceptional concentration, tangy acids and a long finish. Today, the wine is only partially formed, but it's immensely promising. Pierre Vincent told me that it attained 12.8% natural alcohol, but despite that rather modest degree for a grand cru white Burgundy, it displays plenty of power and substance.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2009 Batard-Montrachet positively explodes from the glass. Round, sweet and expressive, the wine saturates the palate with masses of fruit in a bold, powerful style that is utterly irresistible. The finish is intense and resonant in all directions. Remy notes that the Batard is the only 2009 above 14% in alcohol. Anticipated maturity: 2017+. Domaine Leflaive is one of the pioneers in biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy. The first experiments began in 1990 and by 1997 all of the vineyards had been converted to biodynamic farming. Winemaker Eric Remy describes the 2009 growing season in considerable detail. The winter was long but mild. The last frost occurred on March 23. Temperatures were normal until the last week of the month, when the weather turned warmer. Flowering began on May 22. The rest of the spring and summer were warm, while a big storm in mid-July dropped 8cm of rain. The rest of the summer was quite warm. The harvest began on September 5, about ten days earlier than normal. Average yields were around 45 hectoliters per hectare. The wines were aged for 12 months in oak followed by 6-8 months in steel. New oak ranged from 10% for the Bourgogne, 15% for the villages, 20% for the premier crus and 25% for the grand crus. The 2009s were bottled between April and June 2011. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 97 –97
The 2010 Batard-Montrachet covers every inch of the palate with fruit. In 2010, the Batard is towering, statuesque and simply impeccable. Today the aromas and flavors are not at all developed, rather the wine is really all about textural elegance and finesse, and there is plenty of that here. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. The Batard is a wine of contrasts. At times it is quite bold and extroverted, at others it possesses admirable restraint. Either way, it is magnificent. Anticipated maturity: 2020+. Estate Manager Eric Remy has one of the sharpest memories of anyone I have ever met. His recall of specific dates and events is quite remarkable, so I will take advantage of that in reporting a very complete picture of the 2010 growing season. Accoring to Remy, in order to gain some insight on 2010, one has to start with the brutal frost of December 19, 2009, when temperatures dropped to a bone chilling -20C/-4F after having hovered around freezing for a few days prior. The very next day, temperatures shot up to 10C/50F. January was quite dry. A bit of snow fell in early February, but the rest of the month was dry. The last frosts at the domaine were recorded from March 10-14. The weather improved in April, especially towards the end of the month. May and June were cold. Flowering in the domine’s vineyards started on June 5th and ended between June 20 and 22. The first part of July was hot but stable, while the second part of the month was cold and humid. Unstable conditions persisted throughout August. A hailstorm with heavy thunder in Santenay on September 12 was a sign harvest time was approaching. A bit of botrytis was recorded on September 17. The harvest started on September 20. Yields came in around 45 hectoliters per hectare, pretty much in line with 2009, the only domaine I visited where that is the case. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 92 –94
The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a laconic stony, mineral bouquet with sea spray scents surfacing with time. The palate is very well-balanced with crisp acidity although at the moment the Bienvenue shows a little more finesse and precision. After five minute, there is a touch of spice that becomes more accentuated with time. As usual for this vineyard, it is reticent at the moment, perturbed why someone would awake it from its prenatal slumber, but this will be fascinating to watch age. Anne-Claude Leflaive made a brief appearance during my tasting at the domaine since she was hastening off to Italy. I have been visiting here for as long as I can remember, first meeting former winemaker Pierre Morey in the 1990s. Back in those days, the tenets of biodynamism were evident, although back then I did not really understand them. Today, there is almost evangelism towards Steiner’s philosophy, not in a monomaniacal sense, rather a strong belief that Anne-Claude’s wines would be pale shadows without them. Parking outside their gates, it was good to be back after a three-year absence. Nothing much had changed. On this occasion it was Antoine Repetit de la Bigne who escorted me down to the stainless-steel vats where the final blends were resting prior to bottling, which is where I always taste. I wondered whether finally I would hear “Oui” when I ask whether I could taste their single barrel of Montrachet? I decided not to ask. That would be rude. Antoine told me that the harvest began on September 14 and everything was picked by September 21. Of course, I had to bring up the topic of hail damage. Antoine explained that here it was de facto the second hail storm on August 1 that inflicted the most damage, particularly on their parcels of village cru. In the end, Leflaive ended up losing approximately half their crop depending up the vineyard. “Fortunately it was just before veraison so the berries did not have a lot of juice in them,” Antoine informed me, clambering up the ladder to dip his pipette into another vat. “Curiously, even the big berries had little juice. It was important to apply the treatments quickly so that the vines do not become stressed and retard the vegetative cycle. We used nettle and velarian (a source of phosphorous) that were both very effective. Then when it came to sorting, the vibrating table de trie was crucial.” Many of the treatments had to be done on foot, much to the chagrin of the team plodding through the vines in their heavy muddy boots. Usually for the last three years it has been horses hooves in the vineyard. However, in 2012 it was found that two human legs were better than four equine ones. It is always an intellectual as well as satisfying sensory exercise tasting through Anne-Claude Leflaive’s wines. It always serves as a lesson in terroir expression: same grape, same approach. As so often I find, those not wishing to spend too much money ought to head directly from their village cru, their Puligny-Montrachet one of the finest you will find in Cote de Beaune. Beyond that, well each year springs up a different premier cru that catches you off guard. Myself, I was taken with stunning Les Pucelles due to its precocity and intensity that lifted it equal to the grand crus. Others might prefer something subtler. I do not think Anne-Claude wines are beyond criticism. Sometimes the aura that veils the estate and Anne-Claude herself, creates a shield so that they are impermeable to dissenting comments. Biodynamics itself has never precluded an intrinsically superior wine to one where a load of chemical was dumped onto the vineyard. The question is more: if given the choice, which would you prefer to put in your mouth? Antoine hands me a copy of his paperback entitled “What’s so Special About Biodynamic Wine.” I read the chapter on wine critics on the way home. I agree with him that we should strive to taste as much as possible at the domaine, but at the end of the day, a biodynamic wine should not be critiqued with preferential treatment. Whether Anne-Claude Leflaive’s Chevalier-Montrachet is biodynamic or not is irrelevant. I am more interested in its intrinsic qualities vis-a-vis their Les Pucelles or Bienvenue, vis-a-vis the Chevalier-Montrachet from Alain Chavy, Jean Chartron, Etienne Sauzet or Michel Niellon. And the Chevalier-Montrachet here is a sublime expression of the vineyard no doubt destined to age with grace and style. That is what matters. You may have noticed there is no Montrachet note here. The reason is not personal. Just that there is so little that it is being matured in a specially made small barrel, which renders the elevage extremely sensitive and fragile (see Frederic Barnier’s comments about his Criots-Batard-Montrachet.) I would not want to ruin what little there is for the sake of vanity. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 95 –95
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Bâtard-Montrachet 2011 from Anne-Claude Leflaive is slightly deeper in color than its peers. The nose is a little austere at first, but it unfolds nicely with impressive mineral (slate and flint) scents, well defined and poised. The palate is well balanced with a keen thread of acidity. There is a bright citric heart to this Bâtard-Montrachet with fleeting touches of nectarine and citrus lemon joining the edgy mineral finish. This is a classy Grand Cru – regal but not imposing.
Rating: 93 –95
The 2013 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, like many from this vineyard, has an expressive and, compared to other vintages, you could almost say extravagant bouquet, bridled with intense citrus lemon, freshly sliced pear, limestone and even a faint touch of peppermint. The palate is intense on the entry with more depth than the Bienvenue at this stage. There is a pinch of spice here, shaved ginger adding a bit of fire at the front of the tongue, then attractive stony notes finally revealed on the finish and the aftertaste. Superb - for me perhaps superior to the 2012.
Rating: 89 –91
The melted-butter scented 2003 Batard-Montrachet (white) is plush, easygoing, and softly plump. A pleasing medium-bodied effort, its over-ripe white fruit flavors lead to a long, supple finish that reveals a nice touch of freshness. It should be drunk over the next 5-6 years. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 89 –89
As I had experienced a great deal of difficulty tasting through Domaine Leflaive's 1998s a year ago due to their high levels of sulphur, Anne-Claude Leflaive was kind enough to allow me to retaste them. The wine was opened two hours prior to my tasting it. The white and yellow fruit-scented 1998 Batard-Montrachet has excellent breadth to its almond, mineral, and pear-flavored character. Medium-bodied, plump, and satin-textured, it is the most harmonious of all of the domaine's 1998s. Anticipated maturity: now-2007. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-9661.
Rating: 90 –92
The mineral and toast-scented 2000 Batard-Montrachet is broad, silky, and light to medium-bodied. A myriad of spices, minerals, and toasted white fruits can be discerned in this detailed wine's personality. Projected maturity: 2003-2011. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 87 –89
The 2001 Batard-Montrachet, a spice, white pepper, and pear-scented wine, is broad, supple, and soft. Light to medium-bodied, it offers loads of smoky pears in its supple personality. This wine also has a trace of the “tannic” characteristic found in the Clavoillon and Pucelles. It should be consumed over the next 5-6 years. To Pierre Morey, Domaine Leflaive’s winemaker, “2001 was not an easy vintage, but it made our work that much more interesting. Our vines faced rot, hail, heat (that burned some grapes), cold, then the onset of botrytis, making us sort grape by grape.” He went on to add, “so we knew on August 3rd, the day after the hail storm, that it was a sorting vintage . . . our next surprise was the acid balance, in which we found we had normal tartaric numbers but high malic acid, making the wines difficult to taste. We opted for an extended elevage, to get the noses to express themselves and the bodies to fill out.” According to Morey, all of the domaine’s Puligny parcels were struck by hail, having lost 20% of their production of Folatieres, slightly less in other parcels. Yields, though lower than in both 1999 and 2000, came in between 40 and 45 hectoliters per hectare, after the work on the sorting tables. When I asked Mr. Morey, a deeply honest man, whether he liked the 2001s, he said, “it’s not my favorite vintage of the last 10 years, but an interesting one, I’m intrigued to see how they will age and when they will be at their best.” Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 90 –93
While I loved the plush, sensual nature of the toasted, mineral-scented 2002 Batard-Montrachet, it does not possess the levels of concentration found in the Pucelles. Medium-bodied, rich, and deep, this tangy, mineral-flavored offering is a candidate for drinking over the next 8 years. To Pierre Morey, the 2002s are “from normal yields and reflect their terroir, two signs of a great vintage.” He went on to add, “Though it was an easy year in the vineyard without any burnt grapes, freezes, or hail, I’ll admit we were very worried between the twentieth of August and tenth of September, when the weather was wet and dreary. Thankfully, we were saved by the north wind.” He added that in 2003, Puligny-Montrachet had battled freeze, multiple hailstorms, and oidium (powdery mildew). Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
Rating: 91 –94
Intense but unyielding on the nose, the Batard Montrachet isn't quite as exciting as the Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles, but it has enormous power and concentration. Displaying fat, candied fruit (ever so slightly flabby) with flavors of tangy minerals, spices and flowers, this thick-textured, full-bodied wine should be drunk early as I'm not convinced it possesses the backbone for serious aging. Drink it between 2002-2007. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. Ratings with a range of scores in parentheses indicate the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. The wines at the domaine are made by Meursault's Pierre Morey. I was impressed with the relationship he has with Madame Leflaive. The two openly share their thoughts, completely respecting each other's opinions. In most cellars there is an obviously dominant player, but at Domaine Leflaive it is a team effort. The wines spend on average 11 months in oak before being placed in stainless steel tanks for another 7 to 9 months (the Montrachet is never removed from oak). The domaine averaged 25 hectoliters/hectare in 1995 - less than 2 tons of fruit per acre. Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel (212) 355-0700.
Rating: 95 –97
1996 is particularly successful for Batard-Montrachet. Leflaive's explodes from the glass with highly-expressive mineral, hazelnut and toasty oak aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied, silky and awesomely rich wine has highly-delineated yet fat and layered waves of white fruits, stones and spices. Brawny yet feminine, powerful yet elegant, this gem is a tour de force! Anticipated maturity: 2002-2010. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Anne-Claude Leflaive, this famed estate's director, and Pierre Morey, its winemaker, are justifiably excited about their 1996s. Some of their lots had 14% natural alcohol potential, yet huge acidity levels. Morey said that the malic and tartaric acid levels were even at harvest, an unprecedented occurrence in a ripe vintage in Burgundy. Like his colleagues at other domaines, he attributes the high levels of malic acid to the cool temperatures that were present in late summer and early fall. Madame Leflaive added that the estate's policy of hoeing the vineyards forces the vine's roots deep into the soil also increases acidity levels. Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel (212) 355-0700.
Rating: 91 –93
Leflaive’s fabulous 1997 Batard-Montrachet offers super-ripe aromas of candied apples intermingled with minerals, chalk, sea salt, and racy lemons. This concentrated wine has awesome density, medium-to-full body, and layers of mouth-coating grilled almonds, citrus fruits, crisp pears, and toasted oak. Unlike most of the other 1997 Batards, it has exceptional balance, delineation, and class. It should be at its peak between 2002 and 2010. Importer: Wilson Daniels, St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-9661.
Rating: 96 –96
This teeters towards opulence, but the bright acidity, flinty reduction and very precise winemaking enable it to retain excellent balance. In spite of the ripeness and concentration, this remains graceful, the tannins and minerality building at the expressive finish, where everything fits beautifully. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.
Rating: 95 –95
Plenty of candied orange, lemon curd and toasty oak on the nose. Quite developed in the first moment, but freshens up considerably in the glass. Impressive concentration, ripeness and creaminess, the fine tannins supporting this generosity very nicely. A positive hint of bitterness adds energy to the long, very mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.
Rating: 95 –95
Very attractive, bright, flinty nose. Lively and light-footed for this appellation, here’s a graceful, medium-to full-bodied white Burgundy with good aging potential, in spite of having moderate acidity. Very long, silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Rating: 93 –93
Quite funky nose with a hint of chutney. A ripe, creamy wine with serious tannins that you’ll either go for or not. Altogether a bit obvious, but there’s plenty of depth and good length. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Rating: 89 –89
Lots of butter caramel and some lemon curd, smoke and sealing wax on the fully mature nose. The full and mellow palate harmonizes to some degree with aeration, but the acidity remains rather sharp. Some candied-citrus and funky lees character at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.