Domaines Leflaive : Bourgogne Blanc 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Bourgogne Blanc 2023 from Domaine Leflaive

Tasting

Nose
The aromatic bouquet stands out for its lovely citrus freshness, revealing scents of lime zest, green apple and white peach. It gains depth with delicate floral notes reminiscent of honeysuckle, underpinned by chalky minerality and a subtle hint of pastry.

Palate
Lively and elegant, the palate is built around flavours of citrus, pear and lemon curd, complemented by nuances of wet stone. Refined acidity and a pronounced mineral backbone frame a delicately creamy texture. The clean, persistent finish ends on a saline touch and a fine almond bitterness.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs beautifully with delicate white fish, seafood such as scallops or lobster, and poultry in cream sauce. It is also a wonderful match for pressed cheeses such as Comté or Beaufort, goat's cheeses, and vegetable dishes featuring asparagus or fennel.

Serving and ageing

To enjoy this Bourgogne Blanc 2023 at its best, serve it at a temperature between 11 and 13°C. Brief aeration in a decanter or in the glass allows the bouquet to open up fully in its youth, while the wine has the structure needed to evolve gracefully over a few years in the cellar.

The elegance and mineral purity of a Bourgogne Blanc by Domaine Leflaive

The estate

Based in Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy, the Leflaive family has been growing vines there since 1717. However, Domaine Leflaive itself was founded in the early 20th century by Joseph Leflaive, in the wake of the phylloxera crisis. A true pioneer, the estate has been farmed entirely biodynamically since 1996, thanks to the vision of Anne-Claude Leflaive. Now run by Brice de la Morandière, the domaine is renowned worldwide for its rigorous approach to viticulture, its respect for terroir and its commitment to sharing its expertise, producing wines of remarkable precision.

The vineyard

This Burgundy wine comes from two plots located around Puligny, "Les Houlières" and "Les Parties", covering a total area of 3.24 hectares. Rooted in the clay-limestone soils typical of the region, the vines were planted between 1979 and 2003. The entire vineyard is farmed according to strict biodynamic principles, encouraging deep rooting and soil vitality.

The vintage

2023 was marked by mild weather conditions that made for a generous, abundant harvest. The growing season was well balanced, with cool nights that promoted optimal ripening of the grapes while preserving lovely freshness.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes for the Bourgogne Blanc 2023 are harvested entirely by hand and rigorously sorted, with ripeness closely monitored plot by plot. After a long, gentle pneumatic pressing, the juice is settled for 24 hours. Alcoholic fermentation and ageing take place in oak barrels (12% of them new, sourced from the Allier and Vosges forests) for 12 months. The wine is then transferred to vats for a further 6 months before a very light fining and, if necessary, a very gentle filtration.

Grape variety

This wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay (100%).