The Leflaive family has been rooted in Puligny-Montrachet since 1717. Olivier was a general manager at Domaine Leflaive, his uncle’s winery, until he decided to start making wine under his own label in 1984. ‘Today, the Olivier Leflaive estate owns 17 hectares (42 acres) in some of Burgundy’s most celebrated appellations’ (Forbes). It is one of Burgundy’s top white wine producers with wines for known for their sheer quality, class and longevity.
Olivier Leflaive age their wines an additional year before release, which is why we can now happily offer a selection from the incredible (but tiny volumes) 2021 vintage.
2021’s vintage conditions were cooler than 2018-2020, with lower yields (because of severe weather conditions) and marked a return to the classics. William Kelley of Wine Advocate spoke of his ‘admiration for the best 2021s, perfumed and sensual wines that evoke the Burgundies of yesteryear in a distinctly contemporary register.’
A wine which always suprises with its remarkable quality and expressive aromatics, is the Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Les Sétilles 2021. The grapes come from 45-year-old vines planted over 70 plots in two of the greatest white wine-producing communes in the world – the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. A brilliant Burgundian Chardonnay for only R600.
A zesty, pure and mineral Chardonnay from a village that produces some of the best value premier cru wine in Burgundy, the Olivier Leflaive Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Dents de Chien 2021 is unmissable at its price point of R1 400. It shows why this region is one to take note of.
‘This is a very good Puligny villages’ praises Allen Meadows of the Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2021, a wine that displays layers of florals, orchard fruit and citrus complimented by a generous palate and taut finish. From a site considered to be one of the very best terroirs in the world for Chardonnay comes the Olivier Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 which has ‘a lovely sense of precision that carries over to the clean, dry, focused and balanced finale’ (Allen Meadows)
Pinot Noir grown below the Corton Grand Cru site make the Olivier Leflaive Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Fichots 2021, which shows finely grained tannin and finesse alongside delicate red fruit, purple florals and stony mineral flavours. It’s the first time for us bringing in this wine, and after having tasted it there with Sophie Leflaive last year, it comes warmly recommend. It’s a great value Burgundy buy, only R895, from this illustrious producer, giving a dark fruited but fresh and fine take on Pinot noir from this 1er Cru site.
Please click here to view the tasting notes.
For pricing and availability, please email jolette@winecellar.co.za
