Domaine Leflaive - Puligny Montrachet



1998


The 1998 vintage was heavily affected by the frost which damaged the hillside vineyards on 14 April: Chevalier-Montrachet, Folatières and Blagny. The weakened parcels then suffered from several bouts of oidium and on 30 April hail damaged the northern part of the vineyard. Between 9 and 12 August, unusual heat scorched the grapes. Despite this catalogue of difficult and unhealthy problems, the sunny days which preceded the harvest encouraged a rapid concentration in the berries; the ripeness achieved for the harvest ranged from 12 to 14.2 degrees. The harvest took place between 21 and 27 September under sunny skies. This is the eighth year the vines have been cultivated organically, and it is thanks to this that the acidity levels achieved this year produced balanced musts. We have been greatly encouraged by signs that the vines treated biodynamically show greater resistance to disease; as a result, with the 1998 harvest we have opted for this treatment throughout the vineyards. The wines of the 1998 vintage will be ready for drinking earlier than those from the 1995, 1996 and 1997 vintages. A drinking guide follows: • from 2001, for the Puligny-Montrachet Village wines, • from 2002, for the Clavoillon and the Combettes, • from 2003, for the Folatières, • from 2005, for the Pucelles, • from 2007, for the grands crus. If the wines are opened shortly before drinking, airing in carafe will be essential - and will compensate.


Montrachet


Septembre 1999 [The white Burgundies of 1998] "Domaine Leflaive" Clive Coates MW Le Montrachet 1998 One and a half casks. The wine is marked by the new wood. Very very rich and concentrated. Backward. Probably brilliant. From 2006 plus.



Archivist and web designer
Beatrice Leflaive

Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional
This site makes use of Flash 8.
To experience it the way we intended, you need Macromedia Flash Player 8, a plug-in for your Wed Browser that can play the content we've created.
To download and install it, click here.