Wine Advisor
Leflaive, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a subtle, mineral nose with Granny Smith apple, cream puffs and flinty scents developing after a couple of minutes in the glass. The palate is rounded and harmonious on the entry with glimpses of white peach and nectarine. The acidity is finely tuned and lends the finish an effortless feel. This Bienvenue is more about the texture than flavors at the moment, with just a touch of viscosity lending it a modicum of richness. Does it rank alongside the immense 2012? Perhaps it falls just short...but not by much.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Bienvenue Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has a clean bouquet, touches of undergrowth here, perhaps not quite as comely as the 2014 may turn out. The palate is nicely balanced with hints of bitter lemon, striking acidity but showing composure and class on the finish that appears to have retained some of that nascent richness that it showed in barrel.
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.
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