1998 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
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 1998 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet exhibits toasted mineral aromas. It has an excellent attack and mid-palate, yet leads to a somewhat dry finish. Fat, medium-bodied, and complex, this wine tastes older than it is. Spices, dried honey-laced minerals, and touches of spice cake can be discerned in its flavor profile. It is delicious to drink today, as its personality would merit an outstanding score were it not for its finish, yet readers should note that it will require near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: now-2004. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-9661.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Exotic, tangy aromas of soft citrus fruits, peach and licorice. Solid and rather fat, but comes across as heavier and less precise than the Pucelles, perhaps due to a less gentle pressing. The combination of the new oak and a slight phenolic character gives the wine a youthful rigidity.
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 1998 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet exhibits toasted mineral aromas. It has an excellent attack and mid-palate, yet leads to a somewhat dry finish. Fat, medium-bodied, and complex, this wine tastes older than it is. Spices, dried honey-laced minerals, and touches of spice cake can be discerned in its flavor profile. It is delicious to drink today, as its personality would merit an outstanding score were it not for its finish, yet readers should note that it will require near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: now-2004. Pierre Rovani, Wine Advocate # 133 Feb 2001
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. Feb 2001, www.robertparker.com
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