Olivier Leflaive : Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Sous Frétilles" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Sous Frétilles" 2024 by Olivier Leflaive

Tasting

Colour
This French white wine reveals a hue typical of young Burgundian Chardonnays, reflecting its youth and a lovely freshness with no trace of overripeness.

Nose
Delicate, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of elderflower and green tea. It reveals a fine natural minerality and great freshness.

Palate
Harmonious and fluid, the palate offers a perfect balance between richness and freshness, underpinned by a magnificent acidic backbone. The expression is direct, revealing the mineral tension of the terroir, before finishing on a long, fresh and taut note, devoid of any tannic structure.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with goat's cheese and delicate seafood such as scallops or pan-seared turbot. It also goes very well with white meats in cream sauce, vegetable tarts or dishes featuring fresh mushrooms.

Service and storage

For optimal enjoyment, this Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Sous Frétilles" 2024 should be served at a temperature of between 10 and 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed from 2025 and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2031.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13% vol.

The elegance and mineral tension of a Premier Cru from Pernand-Vergelesses

The estate

Founded in 1984 in France, the Maison Olivier Leflaive is a true institution based in Puligny-Montrachet, at the heart of Burgundy. Now led by Olivier Leflaive, alongside his brother Patrick as chairman and his daughter Julie, the family estate stands out for its innovative approach, combining 26 hectares of its own vineyards with the purchase of high-quality grapes. Representing 82 different climats, the estate is certified High Environmental Value and has also established itself as a pioneer of oenotourism in the region, always favouring excellence over quantity.

The vineyard

Located at the top of the hillside above the village of Pernand-Vergelesses, in the immediate vicinity of Corton-Charlemagne, the Sous Frétilles terroir enjoys optimal south-facing exposure and a steep slope. Reclassified as Premier Cru in 2001, Olivier Leflaive's vines cover 5.18 hectares at an altitude ranging from 320 to 380 metres. With an average age of 36 years, they thrive on stony limestone marl soils that give the wine its distinctive minerality. The vineyard is managed in accordance with High Environmental Value certification principles, with shallow soil cultivation to prevent erosion.

The vintage

2024 proved particularly challenging from a climatic perspective. Marked by record rainfall and constant humidity throughout the growing season, the year brought considerable disease pressure, notably from mildew. The most well-drained terroirs coped best with these extreme conditions. Thanks to relentless work in the vineyards and extremely rigorous sorting at harvest, the grapes picked retained remarkable brightness and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes used to produce the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Sous Frétilles" 2024 are harvested entirely by hand. Upon arrival at the winery, they undergo gentle pneumatic pressing, followed by 24 hours of static settling. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in oak barrels. Aging lasts 12 months on the lees, including four months in a single blended vat. The wine is aged exclusively in oak, with 20% new barrels and 80% barrels that have already held one or more wines, before being bottled.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay