Domaines Leflaive : Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand cru 2022

Tasting and Pairing Notes for the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 2022 from Domaine Leflaive

• Color
  This white wine shows a pale lemon-yellow hue with bright, clear reflections, a visual signature typical of a young Puligny-Montrachet grand cru that has not been pushed toward overripeness.
• Nose
  The nose opens on ripe apple and citrus, layered with a fine mineral edge. The aromatic profile is detailed and nuanced, built in successive layers, and gradually turns toward notes of grilled and candied lemon, giving the wine a fruit-forward yet refined character.
• Palate
  On the palate, the wine is bright and fresh, driven by crisp acidity that carries notes of apple, lemon, and stony minerality. The texture is nuanced and layered, with real intensity, leading into a long finish marked by grilled and candied lemon tones.

This Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet pairs beautifully with noble fish, shellfish, and refined poultry dishes, where its freshness and aromatic precision can stand up to delicate sauces without overwhelming them.

Domaine Leflaive was established in Puligny-Montrachet, in Burgundy, with 1920 marking the symbolic launch of Joseph Leflaive's replanting and development program that gave the property its modern form. Still family-owned and independent, the domaine is today led by Brice de la Morandière, great-grandson of the founder. Domaine Leflaive is recognized as a pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, a practice adopted in the mid-1990s, and remains one of the benchmark producers for chardonnay grown on the great terroirs of Puligny-Montrachet.

The Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet parcel farmed by Domaine Leflaive covers roughly 1.16 hectares, planted in 1958 and 1959, making it one of the oldest plots on the estate. Located on the lower part of the Montrachet hillside, the vines grow on clay-limestone soil, which combines the precision of limestone with the depth and richness brought by clay. The vineyard is cultivated according to biodynamic principles, with close attention paid to soil life and natural balance.

The 2022 growing season in Burgundy was marked by warmer-than-average temperatures and remarkably high sunshine levels from early in the cycle. A brief frost episode in early April proved far less damaging than the one experienced in 2021. The summer brought sustained heat, requiring careful monitoring of ripening to preserve balance, while limited rainfall throughout the season supported steady, even maturation of the grapes.

The Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 2022 was produced following the estate's classic approach for its grand crus: a long, gentle pneumatic pressing, followed by a 24-hour settling period and racking before the must is transferred into oak barrels. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in barrel, with aging on the lees for about 12 months. The wine is then moved to stainless steel tanks for a further 6 to 10 months on fine lees, with minimal fining and only a light filtration if needed before bottling.

100 % chardonnay.