On a trip to Burgundy in late July we were lucky enough to visit the newly refurbished cellars at Domaine Leflaive, which were opened earlier this year to mark the estates Tricentenaire, to taste the range of 2015s.
From the first taste of Bourgogne Blanc it was evident the Domaine had harvested its Chardonnay at just the decisive moment before the grapes were overly ripe. The wines displayed the hallmark floral, white fruit and citrus aromas that develop so wonderfully over time. They were already multi-layered, hinting at their great future. This is a vintage that will reward patience at the upper levels.
The further good news is that our gentle stroll around the vineyards confirms that the vines are healthy and enjoying a promising growing season. Over the weekend rain came to refresh the vines and the harvest may now take place in early September rather than late August as was being predicted during our visit. As of this writing a good sized crop is predicted, but as we know this can change overnight if major storms arrive.
Domaine Leflaive is renowned for producing some of the most complex white wines in Burgundy and also for being a fierce protector of the land of Puligny-Montrachet. The late Anne-Claude Leflaive, one of the region’s greatest winemaking heroes, pioneered biodynamic viticulture at the estate. This legacy is continued today by her nephew Brice de la Morandiere who directs the Domaine and Pierre Vincent, who joined in early 2017 from Domaine de la Vougeraie as general manager. Pierre is another leader in the field of biodynamic winemaking and we are thrilled and honoured to continue our relationship with Domaine Leflaive into the future, having first imported their wines to the UK over 20 years ago.
Peter Valiunas
Head of Private Clients