Wine Advisor
Leflaive, Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Very attractive, bright, flinty nose. Lively and light-footed for this appellation, here’s a graceful, medium-to full-bodied white Burgundy with good aging potential, in spite of having moderate acidity. Very long, silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a more masculine, introspective and earthier bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The strictness and focus here are superb. The palate is very well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. There is good tension, saline and spicy in the mouth, animated even. Whilst it does not quite deliver the persistence at the moment, by the time it is in bottle that should be in situ. This is a very impressive Bâtard-Montrachet.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The Leflaive 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a superb achievement in the 2015 vintage, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of white peach, fresh bread, pear, preserved citrus, beeswax and crisp yellow orchard fruit. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, multidimensional and authoritative, distinguished by its sense of completeness and control, with terrific depth and amplitude and a long, reserved finish. The Bâtard is one of the high-points of the Leflaive range this year, fully realizing the potential of the vintage.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Leflaive 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a superb achievement in the 2015 vintage, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of white peach, fresh bread, pear, preserved citrus, beeswax and crisp yellow orchard fruit. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, multidimensional and authoritative, distinguished by its sense of completeness and control, with terrific depth and amplitude and a long, reserved finish. The Bâtard is one of the high-points of the Leflaive range this year, fully realizing the potential of the vintage.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale, bright yellow. Deeper-pitched on the nose than the Bienvenues-Bâtard and a bit reduced, offering aromas of ripe peach, smoke and minerals. Fat on entry, then powerful and unevolved in the middle palate, with strong pineappley acidity keeping the wine from coming off as heavy. Finishes adamantly dry and firm, with a dusty tannic quality and a note of menthol. This wine is evolving very slowly and will need serious cellaring.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(13.6% alcohol, with 4.15 g/l total acidity): Bright pale yellow. Expressive nose combines fresh pineapple, stone and white flowers, plus a complicating leesy nuance. Richer, riper and broader-shouldered than the Bienvenue, conveying an impression of density and solidity. A touch more tannic and warm but not heavy on the long aftertaste, this full-bodied grand cru avoids coming off as heavy.
About the Producer
Domaine Leflaive, based in Puligny-Montrachet, is one of the most important producers in the Côte de Beaune. Focusing almost entirely on white wines made from Chardonnay, the Domaine makes four grand cru wines and four premier crus in Puligny-Montrachet. The Domaine was founded by Joseph Leflaive, a former engineer. In 1905, he purchased vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet which had been ravaged by phylloxera, and set about replanting and expanding them. Upon his death in 1953, his sons Vincent and Jo took over the running of the estate, and are widely credited with building up the reputation that Leflaive enjoys today. In 1990, cousins Anne Claude and Olivier Leflaive took over the running of the estate, with Olivier leaving in 1994 to run his own negociant business. Anne Claude converted the vineyards to biodynamics and is considered a pioneer of that movement in Burgundy. After her death in 2015, her nephew Brice de la Morandiere has taken over the running of Domaine Leflaive. Domaine Leflaive's most important wine is arguably the Montrachet Grand Cru, which, depending on vintage, can fetch upwards of $5000 a bottle. The domaine also has land in Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, and makes a grand cru wine from each. Additional to this, there are several premier cru wines, the most important of which is probably the Les Clavoillon, which was one of the wines included in the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Domaine Leflaive also makes a sole red wine from Pinot Noir under the Blagny Sous le Dos d'Ane Premier Cru title.
