2016 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru
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Tasting notes
At a private supper in London, this stood out among a stunning lineup of wines. Laced with preserved lemon, pie crust, lime, saffron, complex, textured, impossible to put down. Aged for 12 months in oak, 22% new, then six months in bottle. From 3ha of vineyard set across three individual plots just next to Bâtard-Montrachet.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(frost cut production by 30% in 2016): Pale yellow. The closest of these premier crus to exotic on the nose, offering scents of ripe peach, hazelnut and honey. Compellingly rich and sweet on the palate, but with its sucrosité leavened by a distinctly sappy quality. As dense and broad as this wine is, it also shows good chewy firmness on the very long, tactile back end. Nicely ripe for the vintage, this wine will need some time to burn off some of its baby fat. But showing very well considering the recent bottling.
The 2016 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Pucelles offers similar richness to the Folatières but with a hints of Meursault-like nuttiness developing in the glass, plus hazelnut and lychee. The palate is very well balanced with a harmonious texture, a fine bead of acidity, a little spicier than the Folatières though quintessentially Puligny-like on the strict, linear and quite saline finish. Very fine—there is plenty of personality here.
About the producer
Domaine Leflaive is arguably Burgundy’s most famous white wine producer, setting the benchmark for top-quality Chardonnay in the Côte de Beaune and the world. The property is the largest land-owner in Puligny-Montrachet, with extensive holdings in the village and five hectares of Grand Cru vineyards