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1996 Domaine Leflaive, Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
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  • Perfect color and clarity and fill

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The great Domaine Leflaive is as important an estate as exists in Burgundy. Shepherded for its glory years by Anne-Claude Leflaive, the domaine was the beacon of everything possible as we entered a new era in wine; she was the guiding hand beyond conversion to biodynamic viticulture throughout Burgundy, sought as a mentor for countless luminaries of today's wine scene. Moving out of the Parker-ized wines of the 80s and 90s, and returning the region as a greater whole toward sensible, sustainable viticulture, producing wines of class & elegance, that is a legend that will stand the test of time.

Domaine Leflaive

Brice de la Morandiere has guided his family's estate since Anne-Claude's passing, and has humbly continued to demand excellence throughout every aspect of production. This has included the slow but steady expansion into regions outside of the home plots surrounding the great Mont Rachet - into Macon and further outward towards Chablis, Savigny, Gevrey and more. 

The "Domaines" Leflaive label denotes the Macon wines, moving forward; "Esprit" will encompass the other negoce wines, while the Puligny, Chassagne, Meursault and traditional Leflaive-owned Grand Crus will remain under the Domaine Label. 

The Domaine owns 24 hectares in Burgundy, including 4.8 ha of Grand Crus, entirely Chardonnay. Winemaking is slow and intentional, if hands-off, largely. Fermentations occur naturally in small barrels, where it will age for one year prior to transferring to stainless for blending and additional aging before bottling.

Meet the Producer

Domaine Leflaive

The great Domaine Leflaive is as important an estate as exists in Burgundy. Shepherded for its glory years by Anne-Claude Leflaive, the domaine was the beacon of everything possible as we entered a new era in wine; she was the guiding hand beyond conversion to biodynamic viticulture throughout Burgundy, sought as a mentor for countless luminaries of today's wine scene. Moving out of the Parker-ized wines of the 80s and 90s, and returning the region as a greater whole toward sensible, sustainable viticulture, producing wines of class & elegance, that is a legend that will stand the test of time.

Brice de la Morandiere has guided his family's estate since Anne-Claude's passing, and has humbly continued to demand excellence throughout every aspect of production. This has included the slow but steady expansion into regions outside of the home plots surrounding the great Mont Rachet - into Macon and further outward towards Chablis, Savigny, Gevrey and more. 

The "Domaines" Leflaive label denotes the Macon wines, moving forward; "Esprit" will encompass the other negoce wines, while the Puligny, Chassagne, Meursault and traditional Leflaive-owned Grand Crus will remain under the Domaine Label. 

The Domaine owns 24 hectares in Burgundy, including 4.8 ha of Grand Crus, entirely Chardonnay. Winemaking is slow and intentional, if hands-off, largely. Fermentations occur naturally in small barrels, where it will age for one year prior to transferring to stainless for blending and additional aging before bottling.


The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

95-97

1996 is particularly successful for Batard-Montrachet. Leflaive's explodes from the glass with highly-expressive mineral, hazelnut and toasty oak aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied, silky and awesomely rich wine has highly-delineated yet fat and layered waves of white fruits, stones and spices. Brawny yet feminine, powerful yet elegant, this gem is a tour de force! Anticipated maturity: 2002-2010. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Anne-Claude Leflaive, this famed estate's director, and Pierre Morey, its winemaker, are justifiably excited about their 1996s. Some of their lots had 14% natural alcohol potential, yet huge acidity levels. Morey said that the malic and tartaric acid levels were even at harvest, an unprecedented occurrence in a ripe vintage in Burgundy. Like his colleagues at other domaines, he attributes the high levels of malic acid to the cool temperatures that were present in late summer and early fall. Madame Leflaive added that the estate's policy of hoeing the vineyards forces the vine's roots deep into the soil also increases acidity levels.

Vinous

Vinous

95

The 1996 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a great wine from the late Anne-Claude Leflaive. Yes, there is quite a heavy reduction on the nose with strong struck match notes, but it dissipates with aeration after 90 minutes. The palate has lovely weight and intensity, notes of orange peel and curd, steely and taut at first but opening with time in the glass with real precision on the finish. Do not be afraid to give this an hour's decanting. Tasted blind at 67 Pall Mall in London.

What the Critics are Saying

The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

95-97

1996 is particularly successful for Batard-Montrachet. Leflaive's explodes from the glass with highly-expressive mineral, hazelnut and toasty oak aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied, silky and awesomely rich wine has highly-delineated yet fat and layered waves of white fruits, stones and spices. Brawny yet feminine, powerful yet elegant, this gem is a tour de force! Anticipated maturity: 2002-2010. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Anne-Claude Leflaive, this famed estate's director, and Pierre Morey, its winemaker, are justifiably excited about their 1996s. Some of their lots had 14% natural alcohol potential, yet huge acidity levels. Morey said that the malic and tartaric acid levels were even at harvest, an unprecedented occurrence in a ripe vintage in Burgundy. Like his colleagues at other domaines, he attributes the high levels of malic acid to the cool temperatures that were present in late summer and early fall. Madame Leflaive added that the estate's policy of hoeing the vineyards forces the vine's roots deep into the soil also increases acidity levels.

Vinous

Vinous

95

The 1996 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a great wine from the late Anne-Claude Leflaive. Yes, there is quite a heavy reduction on the nose with strong struck match notes, but it dissipates with aeration after 90 minutes. The palate has lovely weight and intensity, notes of orange peel and curd, steely and taut at first but opening with time in the glass with real precision on the finish. Do not be afraid to give this an hour's decanting. Tasted blind at 67 Pall Mall in London.