Domaine Leflaive
The renowned Burgundy house, Domaine Leflaive, is known for producing some of the finest white wines globally and is highly respected for their craftsmanship, expertise, and passion in expressing Burgundy's unique terroir in their wines. Domaine Leflaive owns many of the best vineyards for producing white Burgundy, including classified Grand Cru areas in the Côte de Beaune region, such as Chevalier-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, and Bâtard-Montrachet.
Domaine Leflaive - A Proud History
Domaine Leflaive has a history spanning over a century, reflecting a legacy of dedication and passion for white wine production. Founded in 1920 by Joseph Leflaive, this family-owned vineyard consistently delivers wines of the highest quality and has established itself as one of the leading producers in Burgundy.
Expertise and Sustainability
When it comes to wine production, Domaine Leflaive is a shining example of high expertise. With a rich history and an impressive range of cuvées today, this esteemed Burgundy producer has enchanted wine enthusiasts worldwide. The estate has a deep understanding of the soil and the unique terroir in the Burgundy region of eastern France. By combining traditional methods with modern techniques, Domaine Leflaive creates wines that stay true to their origin, expressing each commune or vineyard's distinctive characteristics.
Various Cuvées from Domaine Leflaive
Domaine Leflaive can present an impressive portfolio of white wines, showcasing the diversity and quality of their wine production. Among some of their most well-known wines are:
Bourgogne Blanc
Domaine Leflaive's Bourgogne Blanc is an excellent example of their ability to produce high-quality wines even in the more affordable price range. This white wine is one of the estate's "entry-level" blends of grapes from different communes and vineyards, made entirely from 100% Chardonnay grapes carefully selected.
Domaine Leflaive's Bourgogne Blanc offers a bright golden color in the glass, enticing with a seductive aroma of citrus fruits, apples, white flowers, and a touch of minerality. At the first sip, the wine fills the mouth with a fresh and lively acidity, providing a clean and crisp sensation. The taste is dominated by fruity nuances such as citrus fruits, fresh apples, and white peaches, accompanied by subtle notes of butter and a light smoky and chalky character.
This cuvée is an extremely tasty and versatile wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with light fish and seafood dishes, as well as white meat. Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Leflaive is a fantastic introduction to the estate's range, offering a glimpse of the finesse and quality for which the house is known.
Macon Verze
Macon Verze is another "entry-level" wine from Domaine Leflaive, representing the characteristic style and quality of the Mâcon region, located slightly further south in Burgundy. This white wine is also produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in selected vineyards around the village of Verzé.
In the glass, Macon Verze appears with a brilliant golden color and a tempting scent of more matured fruit, red apples, peaches, flowers, and a discreet mineral tone. The taste is fresh and fruity with notes of citrus fruits, white peaches, and a hint of tropical fruits. The wine has a medium body and a pleasant acidity, providing a balanced and harmonious experience.
Macon Verze is a versatile wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with a wide range of dishes, including fish, seafood, white meat, and salads. This cuvée is an excellent example of Domaine Leflaive's ability to create wines that reflect the terroir in the Mâcon region, showcasing their dedication to quality and finesse.
Both Bourgogne Blanc and Macon Verze are examples of Domaine Leflaive's craftsmanship and commitment to producing wines of the highest quality, regardless of the price range. These cuvées are a "must-try" for wine enthusiasts looking to experience the elegance of Burgundy and get a taste of Domaine Leflaive's enchanting wine universe.
Macon Ige
Macon Ige is one of Domaine Leflaive's cuvées from the Mâcon Ige appellation in Burgundy. This white wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in selected vineyards in the area, located in the southern part of Burgundy.
Macon Ige presents itself with a straw-yellow color and a seductive aroma of citrus fruits, ripe pear, white flowers, and subtle minerality. At the first sip, the wine offers a fresh and crisp acidity balanced by tasting notes of citrus fruits, apple, peach, and a nutty character. The wine has a pleasant mouthfeel with a persistent finish.
Macon Ige is a versatile white wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with a wide range of dishes. It is suitable for seafood, fish dishes, salads, and light cheeses.
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet
One of the vineyard's most iconic cuvées is the classic Puligny-Montrachet. This village cuvée or "communal wine" is created with grapes from different plots in Puligny-Montrachet and is known for its creamy texture, refreshing acidity, great complexity, and seductive aromas of citrus fruits, flowers, and minerality. Domaine Leflaive's Puligny-Montrachet is an excellent example of their ability to create wine that is both elegant and deeply nuanced, even at the "entry-level."
Domaine Leflaive Meursault
The estate's classic Meursault, again at the village level, is another remarkable cuvée from Domaine Leflaive. This white wine also comes from various plots in the famous Meursault commune and is renowned for its full-bodied structure, complex flavor profile, and notes of more matured fruit, nuts, and butter. With a perfect balance between freshness and richness, Meursault has an impressive ability to develop and mature over time.
Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet
Batard-Montrachet is one of Domaine Leflaive's most prestigious cuvées, a single-vineyard wine from the Grand Cru of the same name. This white wine is known for its immense intensity, concentration, and elegance. With precisely measured notes of tropical and citrus fruits complemented by deep mineral undertones and a lingering finish, Batard-Montrachet is a wine that is truly meditative to taste and, moreover, only improves and gains more depth with age.
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet
Chevalier-Montrachet is one of Domaine Leflaive's most sought-after and rare cuvées from the Grand Cru vineyard of the same name. This white wine is known for its great elegance, distinctive finesse, richness, and complex character. With notes of white flowers, citrus fruits, stone fruits, and subtle minerality, Chevalier-Montrachet is a wine that truly expresses the terroir of the vineyard and can age for many years.
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet
Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet is another outstanding Grand Cru from Domaine Leflaive. This white wine offers a rich and full-bodied flavor profile, featuring notes of peach, brioche, and a discreet smoky character. Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet is a wine that impresses with its complexity and long finish. The aging potential is significant, making it worthwhile to keep an eye on older vintages.
Auxey-Duresses
Auxey-Duresses from Domaine Leflaive is among the estate's few red wines and originates from the small Auxey-Duresses appellation in Burgundy. This red wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, handpicked from carefully selected parcels.
Auxey-Duresses presents itself with a deep ruby-red color in the glass and has an inviting scent of ripe berries, cherries, red flowers, and a hint of spices. At first taste, the wine unfolds with complex layers of red berries like cherries, raspberries, and cranberries, combined with subtle earthy, mushroom, and spicy undertones. The tannins are very gentle and well-integrated, and the wine has a long and pleasant finish.
Auxey-Duresses is a wine with finesse, elegance, and an impressive structure. It is suitable for accompanying meat dishes such as poultry, lamb, and game, as well as mature cheeses.
These cuvées are just a small selection of Domaine Leflaive's extensive range. Regardless of which wine you choose, you can expect a wine experience of the highest caliber from this renowned domaine.
Esprit Leflaive
Esprit Leflaive is a niche négociant series that focuses on offering high quality white and red wines from various regions in Burgundy.
This new project, Esprit Leflaive, expands Domaine Leflaive's repertoire and emphasizes their passion for delivering high quality wines that reflect Burgundy's unique terroir.
The grape material is sourced from specially selected organic and biodynamic winegrowers and then transported to Puligny where the vinification process takes place. Here, each cuvée is created exclusively with grapes from a single winegrower.
Keep an eye out for Esprit Leflaive here on the marketplace, and perhaps you'll get your hands on these exciting bottles.
10 Particularly Good Vintages of Domaine Leflaive's Wines:
2005: An excellent vintage for Domaine Leflaive. Wines from this vintage are characterized by their elegance, finesse, and impressive aging potential.
2008: This vintage is known for its finesse and elegant style. Wines from this vintage have a beautiful balance between fruit and minerality.
2009: This vintage has been highlighted for its generous fruit and impressive concentration. Wines from this vintage are full-bodied and intense with a long and persistent finish.
2010: Considered one of Domaine Leflaive's best vintages. Wines from this vintage are known for their fantastic balance between fruit, acidity, and complexity.
2011: Wines from this vintage have a nice harmony between fruit, acidity, and minerality.
2012: An exceptionally great vintage for Domaine Leflaive. Wines from this vintage are full-bodied and well-structured with a beautiful harmony between fruit and minerality.
2014: A great vintage praised for its structure and precision. Wines from this vintage have a beautiful fruit intensity and a pleasant acidity that makes them very enjoyable to drink.
2015: The vintage is praised for its fruit intensity and well-balanced acidity. Wines from this vintage have impressive depth and complexity.
2016: Another good vintage, noted for its freshness and precision. Wines from this vintage have impressive purity and complexity.
2017: Among the greatest vintages of the decade, recognized for its freshness and vitality. Wines from this vintage have an impressive aromatic complexity, a beautiful acid structure, and significant aging potential.
These vintages represent some of Domaine Leflaive's best in recent decades. It's worth noting that preferences can vary, so it's a good idea to explore different vintages to find your own personal favorite.
Frequently asked questions about Domaine Leflaive
Domaine Leflaive was founded in 1920 and has over 100 years of experience in wine production.
Olivier Leflaive and Domaine Leflaive are two different wine producers in the Burgundy region, each with their approaches and portfolios of wines.
Olivier Leflaive is a renowned producer founded by Olivier Leflaive and his brother in 1984. They primarily focus on producing white wines and have a wide range of wines from different appellations in Burgundy. Olivier Leflaive has built a reputation for creating high-quality wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the various terroirs in the region. They are known for their Chardonnay wines, showing a harmonious balance between fruit, acidity, and minerality.
On the other hand, Domaine Leflaive is a family-owned vineyard that has existed for many generations. They specialize in producing white Grand Cru wines. Domaine Leflaive owns and cultivates some of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy, including wines like "Chevalier-Montrachet" and "Bâtard-Montrachet." Their wines are known for their complexity, elegance, and ability to authentically express the terroir.
In a nutshell, you could say that Olivier Leflaive is more broadly focused, offering a wide range of wines from different appellations but not possessing the same top-level status as Domaine Leflaive, which is particularly specialized in white Grand Cru wines. Both producers share a common passion for creating quality wines that represent the unique character and terroir of Burgundy.
Domaine Leflaive has adopted a range of sustainable practices, including organic and biodynamic farming as well as water and energy-saving methods.
Yes, many of Domaine Leflaive's wines have aging potential for several years, even decades, and are known to develop greater depth and complexity over time.
Domaine Leflaive was founded in 1920 and has over 100 years of experience in wine production.
Domaine Leflaive has adopted a range of sustainable practices, including organic and biodynamic farming as well as water and energy-saving methods.
Olivier Leflaive and Domaine Leflaive are two different wine producers in the Burgundy region, each with their approaches and portfolios of wines.
Olivier Leflaive is a renowned producer founded by Olivier Leflaive and his brother in 1984. They primarily focus on producing white wines and have a wide range of wines from different appellations in Burgundy. Olivier Leflaive has built a reputation for creating high-quality wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the various terroirs in the region. They are known for their Chardonnay wines, showing a harmonious balance between fruit, acidity, and minerality.
On the other hand, Domaine Leflaive is a family-owned vineyard that has existed for many generations. They specialize in producing white Grand Cru wines. Domaine Leflaive owns and cultivates some of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy, including wines like "Chevalier-Montrachet" and "Bâtard-Montrachet." Their wines are known for their complexity, elegance, and ability to authentically express the terroir.
In a nutshell, you could say that Olivier Leflaive is more broadly focused, offering a wide range of wines from different appellations but not possessing the same top-level status as Domaine Leflaive, which is particularly specialized in white Grand Cru wines. Both producers share a common passion for creating quality wines that represent the unique character and terroir of Burgundy.
Yes, many of Domaine Leflaive's wines have aging potential for several years, even decades, and are known to develop greater depth and complexity over time.