Domaines Leflaive : Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru "Les Pucelles" 2022

Tasting Notes and Characteristics – Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2022, Domaine Leflaive

Color

This cuvée from Domaine Leflaive displays a pale gold color, with the faint greenish glints often associated with young, precisely vinified white Burgundies.

Nose

The nose of this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles opens on notes of pear and light honey, intertwined with white flowers and a touch of orange oil, framed by a subtle reductive nuance typical of its youth. A hint of exotic fruit and a faint menthol note add complexity, while nuances of lemon, green apple, almond and wet stone bring a bright, mineral dimension to the aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2022 is medium to full-bodied, with a satiny, seamless texture that envelops a generous, sweet core of fruit. Vivid acidity runs through the wine, lending remarkable precision, while hints of umami, white pepper and verbena emerge toward a long, saline finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with delicate fish such as turbot, sole or sea bass, grilled or roasted and served with a beurre blanc or lightly citrusy sauce. It also complements shellfish like lobster, langoustine or scallops, particularly when lightly seared, as well as fine poultry served with cream-based sauces. A young, mild Comté can also be enjoyed alongside this cuvée from Domaine Leflaive.

Serving and Cellaring

This Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2022 is a wine built for long cellaring, with leading critics suggesting an optimal drinking window extending to at least 2048, allowing its aromatic complexity and mineral depth to fully unfold over time.

Other Characteristics

This cuvée reaches an alcohol level of around 13.0 to 13.5% vol., consistent with the balance sought by the estate between ripeness and freshness.

A Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Shaped by the Les Pucelles Terroir

The Estate

Structured as a modern wine estate from 1920 under the guidance of Joseph Leflaive, Domaine Leflaive is rooted in Puligny-Montrachet, in the heart of Burgundy. The property is today led by Brice de la Morandière, great-grandson of the founder, who took over in 2015. With roughly 24 hectares at Puligny-Montrachet spanning grand crus and premier crus, the estate is recognized as the leading landowner in the village. Since the 1990s, under Anne-Claude Leflaive, the domaine has farmed its vines biodynamically, a defining feature of its identity and a hallmark of its approach to chardonnay.

The Vineyard

Les Pucelles lies in Puligny-Montrachet, directly adjoining the grand cru Bâtard-Montrachet, on clay-limestone soils that combine moisture retention with efficient drainage. Domaine Leflaive farms this climat across three parcels – Le Clos du Meix, La Grande and La Petite – for a total of around 3 hectares, with vines planted between 1954 and 1985 and partial replanting carried out in 2012. The vineyard is cultivated biodynamically, with manual harvesting and careful sorting in the vines.

The Vintage

2022 was a warm, sun-filled growing season in Burgundy. Despite the heat, careful vineyard management allowed grapes to retain a striking freshness, resulting in fruit that reached generous ripeness while preserving the acidity needed for tension and aging potential.

Winemaking and Aging

For this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2022, grapes are hand-harvested and sorted before a long, gentle pneumatic pressing. The juice is left to settle for 24 hours prior to racking and barrel filling. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels, with around 22% new wood sourced from Allier and Vosges forests, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for approximately 12 months in barrel, then transferred to stainless steel tanks for about six months on fine lees, with only light fining and filtration applied when needed.

Grape Varieties

100% Chardonnay.