Domaine Leflaive - Puligny Montrachet

2002

The cold weather came prematurely in autumn and winter, and the sap subsided early on, so that pruning began under good conditions. Vegetation growth started very early in March. The entire year was dry (less than 500 mm of precipitation over 12 months), and ploughing was carried out with no problems. Cryptogamic diseases were practically absent from the vineyard, which was welcome following three years of pressure from mildew, plus a year's pressure from oidium. Flowering finished in good time in scorching temperatures at end-June, and the grapes developed very quickly. The period from 20 August to 10 September brought humidity. However, in our region water accumulation remained low and without consequences; just a bit of anxiety for the vignerons! The north wind came at just the right time in a clear, bright sky, bringing ripening to perfection in a healthy state and giving ideal balance in the musts. The harvest took place from 19 to 26 September. The 2002 harvest is one of the Domaine's landmark years: excellent structure, elegance, freshness, raciness and balance - qualities that indicate that the 2002 vintage will age well. Aeration in carafe is indispensable. The previous evening at cellar temperatures would be ideal. These wines can be enjoyed at the earliest: � Bourgogne blanc from 2005 � Puligny-Montrachet from 2006 � The Premiers Crus (Clavoillon, Combettes, Folati�res) from 2008 � Les Pucelles from 2009 � The Grands Crus from 2011 � Le Montrachet from 2020

Puligny-Montrachet Les Folati�res

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Puligny-Montrachet, Folati�res Quintessential Puligny aromas of peach, flowers and butter. Fense and juicy, with pure, intense flavors of butter and stones. The wine's strong minerality makes it seem much firmer and brighter than the 3.8 grams-per-liter acidity would suggest. Very focused and expressive wine, finishing with vibrancy and excellent persistence. 90-93. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Puligny-Montrachet, Folati�re The 2002 Puligny-Montrachet Folati�re ushers in spicy mineral aromas with extraordinary depth. This opulent, silky treasure provides a deep, concentrated ensemble, dominated by scents of spicy apple. Highly expressive, rich, and with a long elegant finish, it should be drunk within 7-8 years. 91-93. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Puligny-Montrachet, Folati�res This is nurty and mineral. Full bodied and complex . Lots of depth. Very good grip. Very classy. Fire quality. From 2008.

Puligny-Montrachet

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Puligny-Montrachet Pale, green-tinged color. Perfumed, fresh aromas of peach and flowers, with a hint of fresh herbs. Spicy, peachy and quite dry, with sound balancing acidity. A bit tart-edged today, and perhaps somewhat hardened by the gas, but nicely persistant. 87-90. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Puligny-Montrachet Pear, apple and spice define the aromatic profile of the 2002 Puligny-Montrachet. This fairly full-bodied, silky wine is generous, with excellent depth. Aromas of ripe pears, with very generous fresh mineral notes. For drinking within 5 years. 88-89. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Puligny-Montrachet Plump, elegant and peachy. Good substance. Very good depth. Lovely fruit. Very good. From 2006-2007.

Bourgogne blanc

The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Bourgogne A rich, full wine, the Bourgogne 2002 has impressive spicy aromas. Fairly full-bodied and silky, the ensemble is dense, juicy, fresh and full, flooding the palate with spicy mineral and pear notes. For drinking within 3-4 years. 87-89. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Bourgogne Blanc Crisp and clean. Very geetly caky. Very stylish. This is delicious. Excellent ripe quality. From 2005.

Meursault sous le Dos d'�ne

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Meursault Blagny Sous le Dos d'Ane Pale, green-tinged color. Lime and oatmeal on the nose. Juicy, bright and penetrating but supple, with brisk inner-mouth perfume of lime and flowers. Penetrating in the mouth and aromatic on the lingering finish. 88-91. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Meursault, Sous le Dos d'Ane On the nose, the 2002 Meursault Sous le Dos d'Ane registers intense mineral notes. The ensemble is sensual, fleshy and fairly full-bodied, inundating the palate with sumptuous waves of mineral-enriched walnut notes. This fresh, opulent and honest wine should be enjoyed over the next 6 years. 89-91. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Meursault, Sous le Dos d'Ane Eight year old vines. But good personality and depth. Mineral and subtle. Very good. From 2006-2007.

Puligny-Montrachet Le Clavoillon

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Puligny-Montrachet, Clavoillons Precise, complex but rather reticent nose hints at white peach, lime and butter. "Supple on entry, then slightly bitter-edged in the middle and on the finish. Showing more structure that flavor today. But this left behind a lovely perfume in the empty glass. Does this have the depth of fruit for its bright acidity ? 88-91. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Puligny-Montrachet, Clavoillon The Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillon 2002 develops aromas of fresh talcum, white flowers and mineral notes. Slightly full-bodied and silky, it is succulent, deep and generous, with beautifully precise expression. It blends ripe mineral and floral flavours. However, a slight tightening up on the finish precludes a more favourable evaluation. For drinking within 5 years. 88-90. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Puligny-Montrachet, Clavoillons Fullish, rich, fat and meaty. Not too four-square because it has the good acidity of the vintage. Plenty of depth. Very good plus. From 2007.

Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Puligny-Montrachet, Combettes Pale yellow. Rich, leesy aromas of nut oil and spicy oak. Fat and sweet, with chewy but dry flavors of peach blossom and hazelnut. Tactile and mouthfilling, with excellent volume and considerable power. But more of a Meursault style of Puligny, less stony than the Folati�res. 91-93. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Puligny-Montrachet, Combettes The exuberant nose of the 2002 Puligny-Montrachet Combettes literally explodes in the glass, with pronounced notes of toasty mineral, white flowers, pears and apples. A full, intense and fairly full-bodied wine, with honeyed mineral, poached pear and aniseed flavours on the palate. This long, silky and concentrated ensemble also finishes on a prolonged supple note. For drinking up to 2012. 90-92. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Puligny-Montrachet, Combettes Rich, honeyed and complex. Excellent grip. This is very intense and lovely. Long and subtle and concentrated. Fine plus. From 2008-2009.

Bienvenues-B�tard-Montrachet

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Aromas of lime oil and mint. Cooler and less obviously ripe than the Pucelles, with juicy, penetrating flavors of mint, vineyard peach and lime. But slightly bony and quite low in residual sugar. This sample came as a bit of a shock after the Pucelles, and will need time to round out in barrel. Finishes with a slight oaky dryness. These vines and those in Le Montrachet are the oldest of the domain, on average. 91-93. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Slightly full-bodied, precise and elegant, the 2002 Bienvenue-B�tard Montrachet offers pear, spice and aniseed on the nose. Scents of mineral, toast and stone are to be found in this concentrated, intense and pure wine. To be enjoyed between 2006 and 2014. 91-93. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Firmer, richer and more profound. More backward. Pullish body and ample. Very good grip. Lovely flowery touches. The elder brother of the Pucelles. Very fine. From 2010.

B�tard-Montrachet

International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Batard-Montrachet Slightly fuller yellow color. Very ripe aromas of peach, apricot, butter and clove. Fat, sweet and ripe, with a concentrated flavor of peach supported by subtle underlying minerality. A big young wine that's hiding more than it's showing today. Very full but not at all heavy. This really coats the palate and builds impressively on the back. 92-95. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Batard-Montrachet While I really liked the sumptuous, sensual nature of the 2002 B�tard-Montrachet, with its toasty and mineral scents, it doesn't have the same level of concentration as the Pucelles. Fairly full-bodied, rich and deep, this tonic, mineral wine is for drinking within 8 years. 90-93. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Batard-Montrachet Rich, full and honeyed. Complex and very classy. Not a bit four-square yet plenty of substance and vigour. Very good grip. This is realy quite reserved still. Fine plus. From 2012.

Chevalier-Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 234, July 2004 Chevalier Montrachet At its prime 2010-2025 "Medium colour. Still very young. Rich, full, abundant and quite powerful on the nose. Full body. Lots of depth. Slightly shaken up because it had recently been fined. But lots of substance on the follow-though. Very fine grip. Lots of classy fruit. Very promising. Very fine for the vintage." International Wine Cellar September/October 2003 Stephen Tanzer Chevalier-Montrachet Complex, expressive aromas of peach, apricot, lime blossom and wet stone. Chewy, spicy and precise, with a concentrated flavor of liquid stone and lovely inner-mouth perfume. Comes across as quite dry owing to its strong minerality. Finishes tactile, vibrant and very long. Superb, classic young Chevalier-Montrachet. 93-96. The Wine Advocate February 2004 - Number 151 R. Parker, Jr Chevalier-Montrachet The Chevalier-Montrachet 2002 offers magnificent aromas of mineral, gravel and spice. Impressive, rich and opulent, this wine - fairly full-bodied, succulent, and with a velvety texture - floods the palate with waves of toasty mineral, honey and pear. It will be perfect between 2006 and 2015. 93-96. The Vine January 2004 Clive Coates Chevalier-Montrachet Concentrated, classy and profound on the nose. Rich, full bodied and backward on the palate. This has very lovely fruit and great harmony. Not as much of a blockbuster as I expected after the Batard. But very subtle and less of dimension. Very fine. From 2012.

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