Domaines Leflaive : Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru "Les Folatières" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Folatières" 2023 from Domaine Leflaive

Tasting

Colour
In its youth, this white wine shows a pale yellow hue with green highlights, a promise of great purity.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the aromatic bouquet opens with herbaceous and fruity notes reminiscent of lemon thyme and wild peach. The whole is enhanced by a deep mineral imprint evoking chalk and flint.

Palate
The palate stands out for its remarkable freshness and tension. With impressive energy and a silky texture, it combines power and density before extending into a long finish with mineral, almost "steely" accents.

Food and wine pairings

This great white wine pairs beautifully with fine fish such as turbot or line-caught sea bass served with beurre blanc, with shellfish such as lobster, or with white meats and poultry in a creamy mushroom sauce. It will also complement a hard cooked-curd cheese such as a moderately aged Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Built for long ageing, this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Folatières" 2023 can be cellared for ten to fifteen years to reveal its full complexity.

The elegance and tension of a great white Burgundy

The estate

While the family's winemaking roots date back to 1717, the founding of Domaine Leflaive as a modern estate dates from 1905, under the leadership of Joseph Leflaive. Located in the heart of Burgundy in France, this iconic estate is still owned by the founder's descendants. A pioneer of biodynamics, which Anne-Claude Leflaive introduced across the entire vineyard in 1997, the domaine is renowned worldwide for the excellence and purity of its great white wines, which faithfully reflect their terroirs.

The vineyard

The largest premier cru in the village of Puligny-Montrachet, the Les Folatières climat enjoys an ideal mid-slope position at an altitude of around 275 metres. Here, the estate farms just over one hectare of vines planted between 1962 and 1999. Facing south-east, this terroir lies on shallow clay-limestone soils rich in scree. The entire vineyard is farmed according to organic (Ecocert certified since 1992) and biodynamic (Biodyvin certified since 1998) principles, with strict control of yields.

The vintage

2023 was marked by particularly high temperatures, a significant water deficit and strong disease pressure during the growing season. Despite these challenging weather conditions, yields proved generous. Careful monitoring of ripeness and rigorous sorting at harvest ensured that only healthy berries were picked, preserving the balance and natural freshness that are characteristic of this terroir.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes for this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Folatières" 2023 are harvested by hand, then gently pressed as whole bunches in a long pneumatic press cycle. After one day of settling, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in oak casks. Ageing is carried out in two stages: twelve months in barrels on the lees with measured bâtonnage, followed by ten months in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees to preserve the wine's tension. Light fining and filtration may take place before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay