Domaine Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet ‘Les Encégnières’ 2019

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

LOCATION

Production area : 9,12 ha total vineyard area.
Altitude : 230-250 m

TERROIR

A whole of four plots scattered on the terroir located below les Grands Crus of Batard and Bienvenues Batard. This terroir is considered as the richest and the most powerful of its category. Blend of several plots with a brown soil on a limestone flagstone.
Soil : Calcareous Clay

IN THE VINEYARD

Wine-Growing method : Sustainable
Harvest: 100 % manual

VINIFICATION

At their arrival in our cellar, the grapes are immediately and carefully pressed with a pneumatic press .
100 % crushed grappe
Finning: yes
Filtration : yes

AGEING

18 months (whose 6 months in stainless steel tank)
100 % oak barrels (whose 20% of new oak)

About Olivier Leflaive

The Leflaive Family has been rooted in Puligny Montrachet since 1717. In the 20th century, Joseph Leflaive (1870-1953), a descendant of the founder, Claude Leflaive, steadily acquired parcels of exceptional 1er Cru and Grand Cru vineyards mainly in the village of Puligny-Montrachet and was one of the precursors of domain bottling (mis en bouteille au domaine); Domaine Leflaive began exporting to the United States in the early 1930’s.

Olivier, Jo’s son, was co-manager of Domaine Leflaive with his uncle Vincent, from 1982 to 1990, and with Anne-Claude, his cousin, from 1990 to 1994.

Entrepreneurial and creative, in 1985 Olivier started his own business, focusing solely on quality, buying grapes and managing vineyards, with a team directed by Olivier Leflaive himself. With his own team in place, Olivier Leflaive was able to source wines from outside of Puligny-Montrachet.

In 1995, Olivier Leflaive in mutual agreement with his family, left Domaine Leflaive to concentrate on Maison Olivier Leflaive.

Today, the Maison Olivier Leflaive controls 50 acres of vineyards located mainly in Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault and Pommard. Since 2010, Maison Olivier Leflaive has recovered its ownership in legendary vineyards managed by Domaine Leflaive after the lapse of an 18-year lease to the Domaine.

Being a grower and grape buyer enable Maison Olivier Leflaive the strength to produce wines from Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune. The wines of Maison Olivier Leflaive are widely regarded for their precision, elegance and finesse.

The domaine produces wine from some 65 appellations with 85% of the production being white wine.

In the Vineyard

Olivier Laflaive hold around 20Ha of their own vines, sourcing fruit from a large number of growers across the entire Côte.

In the Winery

Explore vintage at Oliver Leflaive with the retrospective of the 2010 vintage.

The 2019 Vintage

For Leflaive in the Côte de Beaune

CÔTE DE BEAUNE WHITES: At best, the yield was 50% of a normal vintage like 2017 or 2018. Vinifying small volumes of white wines is a perilous exercise. And this was the case for this vintage, which had the advantage of being healthy, with firm skins, beautiful pips and good acidity. The alcohol levels were high, at 13.5° or even 14° across the board, but the wines’ phenolic consistency can handle it. The wines are generous and full, with no residual sugar. There was not much malic acid, but we nonetheless thought it judicious to let it be transformed by malolactic fermentation, which we deliberately delayed in order to gain a little time on the ageing cycle. There was very little intervention except to help the sugars finish, and the wines enjoyed a cautiously light oaking. The first tastings suggest a vintage that has depth and vinosity. There are naturally some similarities with 2016 vintage and the best wines from 2003, but it would be better to wait a little longer to compare this vintage with its predecessors.

You can read Leflaive’s full vintage report here.

Where in the World is Olivier Leflaive?

Olivier Leflaive is based in Puligny-Montrachet.