Domaine Leflaive - Puligny Montrachet



2003


What was most noteworthy in the 2003 vintage was undeniably the exceptionally early harvest. We have to go back to 1893 to find one as early as that! For us, the choice of date was determined by one essential element: the end of the scorching hot temperatures that were highly unfavourable to good harvesting and vinification conditions (right after the rain on 28 August) Tasting the grapes before and during the harvest confirmed our choice. We therefore harvested from Saturday 30 August to Thursday 5 September under very good weather conditions. The harvest was a quick one since quantity was low (an average of roughly 25 hl/ha). Several factors contributed to this result: • frost on 11 April in the Bourgogne and Puligny-Montrachet AOCs • hailstorms on 12 June and 20 July • finally, and above all, sunburn on the grapes with southern exposure during several weeks' heatwave in July and August. The sorting table made it possible to eliminate the grapes that were most heavily hit by the weather conditions, and all parcels were sorted – from Bourgogne Blanc to Montrachet. Quality is truly astonishing, with low acidity and high, very consistent sugar content. The small yields contribute significantly to fruit concentration. The wines will be rich, generous, and will without doubt be ready to drink early on. You can enjoy them, at the earliest: • Bourgogne Blanc from 2006 • Puligny-Montrachet from 2006 • Premiers crus from 2007 • Puligny-Montrachet "Les Pucelles" from 2008 • Grands Crus from 2009 • Montrachet from 2010


Montrachet


The Vine October 2004 #237 Clive Coates Le Montrachet Very, very concentrated and closed-in on the nose. But on the palate a slight lack of fruit and richness. Good acidity nevertheless. This need time. It doesn't sing today. Strange herbal flavours at the end. To be reviewed. From 2010. The wine advocate 29 April 2005 - n°158 R. Parker, Jr Montrachet Produced from 25 hectoliter per hectare yields, the 2003 Montrachet (white, 91-93) boasts a nose of toasted pears dusted with vanilla beans. Medium-bodied and oily-textured, its toasty personality reveals loads of spices, white fruits, anise, and nutmeg. Fresh, pure, and displaying an extended finish, this beauty is the candidate for drinking over the next 9-10 years.



Archivist and web designer
Beatrice Leflaive

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