Domaine Leflaive - Puligny Montrachet

1999

The winter of 1998-99 was on the whole a mild one, albeit with some unsettled periods. Spring was more extreme, with temperatures often above average. Budburst was early, but was halted by a cold spell in mid-April (though there was no frost). The end of April and the beginning of May were warm and the vines started growing quickly. May was dominated by stormy weather (a blend of heat and humidity), which encouraged mildew. Fortunately, we were able to treat the vines regularly so that the disease did not have any lasting effect on the harvest. Very early, rapid and homogenous flowering indicated that harvesting would begin in mid-September. Over the summer, temperatures were generally high and the grapes ripened smoothly. Harvesting took place between 18 and 26 September. It was a healthy harvest, finishing without any problems. The wines are well balanced and refined, with good structure, purity and mineral character. They should be ready to taste after four or five years, but will improve further with age while retaining their youthful character for quite a few years. They can be compared to the 1979 vintage. The wines of the 1999 vintage will be ready for dinking, at the earliest: � from 2002, for the Puligny-Montrachet Village wines, � from 2003, for the Clavoillon and Les Combettes 1ers crus � from 2004, for the Folati�res 1er cru � from 2005, for the Pucelles 1er cru � from 2007, for the grands crus Aeration will be essential for wines opened shortly before drinking.

Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Montrachet 1999 : (sulfited but not yet racked): Deep aromas of white flowers and candied lemon. Very rich and powerful but tightly wound; thick and voluminous but spicy and pure. Lovely finishing sweetness. Not especially backward -- in fact, remarkably easy to taste for a young Montrachet. And yet, I suspect this wine has the balance and backbone to be long-lived. 93-95. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Septembre/Octobre 2000 Montrachet 1999 : Closed on the nose. Full and very rich and concentrated on the palate. Very intensely flavoured. Very lovely fruit. Not heavy, nor too much of a clumsy monster. Very focused. Excellent. From 2008. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr Montrachet 1999 from Domaine Leflaive is first-rate. A marvel of precision, with a spicy and mineral nose, it is fairly full-bodied, powerful, deep, full and harmonious; it literally carpets the palate with its waves of supple, opulent aromas - notes of white and yellow fruit, spice and cream. For drinking between 2003 and 2012.

B�tard-Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, September 2000 B�tard-Montrachet 1999 : "Fullish, fresh, quite energetic nose with a touch of ripe apples as well as peaches. On the palate quite an abundant example, ripe, even rich with good acidity and concentration. A second cask was more energetic, more poised and with better grip. More elegant. Very peachy. Very fine. From 2006." Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar September/October 2000 B�tard-Montrachet 1999 (not yet racked): Brooding, powerful, reduced nose hints at stone fruits and grilled nuts. Impressively sweet and puissant in the mouth, with chewy density giving the wine a tactile, layered quality and noteworthy clarity of flavor. Quite pure in the mouth; offers a powerful backbone but carries its 14.2% alcohol gracefully. Impressively dry, aristocratic and long on the back end. A potentially great Batard already showing great complexity. This possesses brisk acidity and a rather low pH. 93-96. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr The both intense and soft nose of the B�tard-Montrachet 1999 blends white fruit and mineral notes. The palate, fairly full-bodied, structured and tight, is rich, fresh and concentrated. It suggests apple, pear and mineral. For drinking at its peak between 2002 and 2010.

Bienvenues-B�tard-Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, September 2000 Bienvenue-B�tard-Montrachet 1999 : Full, fat, rich and focused. Very good grip. This is expansive and rather more masculine than the Pucelles. Good drive. Fine plus. From 2004/2005. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr Rich aromas of almond emerge from the Bienvenue-B�tard-Montrachet 1999. On the palate, the wine is fairly full-bodied and rich, also very structured, amply expressing flavors of white and yellow fruit blended with walnut notes. The notes perceived on the palate continue on the finish.

Chevalier-Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Chevalier-Montrachet 1999 : (not yet racked): Nuanced nose combines pineapple, minerals, honeysuckle, nut oil and charred oak. Superrich but penetrating; thick with extract. Possesses impressive volume for Chevalier, but it's not at the level of Batard. Very long and subtle on the aftertaste. "This wine was almost too tender at the beginning, but it's beginning to take shape," noted Morey. 92-94. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar September/October 2000 Chevalier-Montrachet 1999 : (not yet racked): Nuanced nose combines pineapple, minerals, honeysuckle, nut oil and charred oak. Superrich but penetrating; thick with extract. Possesses impressive volume for Chevalier, but it's not at the level of Batard. Very long and subtle on the aftertaste. "This wine was almost too tender at the beginning, but it's beginning to take shape," noted Morey. 92-94. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr The Chevalier-Montrachet 1999 expresses pure but nuanced aromas of mineral. On the palate it is full and deep, again revealing spicy mineral notes crossed with pear. Harmonious and pure, with a supple finish, it will be perfect in 10 years.

Bourgogne blanc

The Wine Advocate N� 133, 28 F�vrier 2000 [Les bourgognes blancs 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr Bourgogne 1999 : This has quite a lean appley touch to it, though the malo is finished. Fullish and very classy on the palate. Very clean. Long. Stylish. Lovely long finish. Very poised. Fine for what it is. Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Bourgogne 1999 : Ripe. Plenty of structure and depth. Good fruit and grip. Quite a full example. Good. From 2002.

Puligny-Montrachet Le Clavoillon

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Clavoillon 1999 : Once again a splendid intensity. Very good grip. Fullish body. Lovely fruit. This is rather less four-square than usual. Long. Very classy. Very good indeed. From 2004. Stephen Tanzer, International Cellar September/October 2000 Clavoillon 1999 : Peach, lemon, vanilla and lees on the nose, along with floral and steely nuances. In a leaner style and currently lacking pliancy. Perhaps still affected by the addition of SO2 in March. But this is ripe and persistent. A second sample from a recently racked barrel showed purer aromas and more texture and length. 87-90. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr With nuances of white flowers and almond paste, the Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillon 1999 is fairly robust and nicely complex, with nice fleshy aromas of apple blended with walnut notes. This opulent, well-made wine will be perfect in 6 years.

Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Les Combettes 1999 : This is a more discret wine. Less evolved. It is more subtle that the Folati�res. But the finish is more expansive. Complex and very harmonious. Good acidity. Fine plus too, perhaps even better. From 2005. Stephen Tanzer, International Cellar Septembre/Octobre 2000 Les Combettes 1999 : (recently racked and sulfited): Complex aromas of peach and nut butter. Rounder, rich and pure, with insinuating ripeness and near-perfect acid/sugar balance. Graceful and very long. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr The candied apple nose of the Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1999 heralds a full, rich and satiny ensemble, with notes - fairly full-bodied but deep - of white fruit and flowers.

Puligny-Montrachet Les Folati�res

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Les Folati�res 1999 : Fullish, rich and concentrated. The wood is a touch more obvious (but a two year old barrel). Very lovely, intense fruit. This is very harmonious, integrated, poised and focussed. A lovely minerally example. Fine plus. From 2005. Stephen Tanzer, International Cellar September/October 2000 Les Folati�res 1999 : Pure, penetrating aromas of lemon candy and flowers. Sweet, spicy and intensely flavored; quite full for Folati�res. Lovely purity of flavor and richness. Finishes long and quite dry. 89-92. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr With a smoky, pear and floral nose, the Puligny-Montrachet Les Folati�res 1999 is fairly full-bodied, feminine, pure and elegant on the palate, developing complex aromas but with great precision, suggesting mineral tones. Its long finish is supple and fresh.

Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1999 : This is another very discreet wine. Not singing as much as the Folati�res on the nose. Does it have the same level of acidity? Rich, fat and plump in its fruit. Certainly long. Certainly fine. Lovely poised fruit but does it lack a bit of energy? From 2004. Stephen Tanzer, International Cellar September/October 2000 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1999 : (recently racked): Aromas of candied citrus fruits and spices along with a strong mineral component; taking up the new wood quickly. Tightly wrapped but tangy; comes across as less dense and more obviously structured than the Combettes, and finer. The Combettes is more like Batard, while this more closely resembles Chevalier-Montrachet. 90-93. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr Initially, the Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1999 gives off a nose of toasty oak and spice, developing floral and mineral notes on airing. The ensemble, fairly full-bodied, is as full as it is deep; it gradually unfolds stony and smoky notes. This well-made wine is again distinguished by a long, supple finish.

Puligny-Montrachet

Clive Coates, The Vine N� 188, Septembre 2000 Puligny-Montrachet 1999 : This is very beautifully poised and elegant for a village wine and has plenty of energy and depth. Lovely elegant, ripe fruit. Long. Very good indeed for what it is. From 2003." Stephen Tanzer, International Cellar September/October 2000 Puligny-Montrachet 1999 : Leesy, slightly reduced aromas of roasted nectarine, lemon and spices. Quite intensely flavored and dry, with a firm spine for village wine. Finishes with good length. N� 133, 28 February 2000 [The white Burgundies of 1999] "Domaine Leflaive" R.M. Parker, Jr The floral nose of the Puligny-Montrachet 1999 heralds a wine that is fairly full-bodied and silky, very full, but with great precision, with mineral and crunchy pear notes.

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