Batard Montrachet・Leflaive・2018
Product name: Bâtard Montrachet
Producer name: Leflaive
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: France > Burgundy
Category: White
Capacity: 750ml
(The following is from the importer materials)
Domaine Leflaive, a prestigious family in Puligny-Montrachet, is said to be the best producer of white wine in Burgundy. It has already been recognized as an excellent producer for 100 years, and it is still at the top, having been ranked first in the world's ``Top 10 White Wine Producers'' by the wine evaluation magazine Decanter (July 2006 issue). This is a domaine that reigns supreme. We own a total of about 25 hectares of fields, including the four Grand Crus of Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenue Batard-Montrachet, Premier Cru, and Village.
What makes Leflaive special is its biodynamic viticulture. At the end of the 1980s, Anne-Claude had doubts about the condition of her vineyards, and after listening to a lecture by geologist Claude Bourguignon, she turned to biodynamics. Under the guidance of the late François Boucher, we practice biodynamic farming, which follows the movements of the celestial bodies and revitalizes the soil with special formulations made from natural substances.
``Battard Montrachet Grand Cru'' uses grapes from both Puligny and Chassagne owned by Leflaive. At 1.91 hectares, this is the largest area owned by this Grand Cru, and no other owner has more than 1 hectare. The topsoil is thick, so in contrast to Chevalier's elegance, Batard is richer and more voluminous.
Leflaive
The treasure of Puligny-Montrachet, which produces the world's finest white wines
Domaine Leflaive is the treasure of Puligny-Montrachet, which produces some of the world's finest white wines. Its ability is recognized all over the world, including being ranked first in the world's top 10 white wine producers by Decanter, the UK's most authoritative wine rating magazine.
A maker of the world's finest white wines that still reigns at the top.
Domaine Leflaive is a prestigious domaine in Puligny-Montrachet that has a 500-year history of wine making, and about 200 years of history since its establishment. It has been recognized as an excellent producer for 100 years, and was recognized as one of the world's top 10 white wine producers in the UK's most authoritative wine evaluation magazine, Decanter (July 2006 issue). It has become the coveted domaine of wine lovers around the world as a domaine that still reigns at the top, having won the number one spot.
In the early 20th century, Joseph Leflaive, a visionary, inherited his family's vineyards, began refining his estate, and established a domaine. His son, Vincent Leflaive, and his older brother, Joe, have made his name unshakable. After Joe's death, his son Olivier took his place.
Mr. Vincent's daughter Anne-Claude Leflaive took part in the domaine in 1990, and after Mr. Olivier became busy with his own négociant business, he managed the domaine alone, but unfortunately he passed away in 2015. Currently, Mr. Brice de la Morandière, the nephew of Mr. Olivier and Anne-Claude, continues the great achievements of his predecessors and is leading the development of the domaine.
Biodynamics that maximizes the potential of grapes
Leflaive owns four Grand Crus: Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenue Batard-Montrachet, as well as Premier Cru and Village, totaling less than 25 hectares of vineyards. Approximately 70% of this is Grand Cru and Premier Cru.
In 2004, we acquired a 9.33 ha field in the Mâconn area south of the Cote de Beaune and began brewing as Mâconn Verzet. Even among the difficult-to-obtain Leflaive lineup, it has become a popular item because it is produced in relatively large quantities and is reasonably priced. In 2020, we acquired a parcel in Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune. The area will attract more attention in the future, including new plantings.
Although Domaine Leflaive is not certified, all of its fields are biodynamic. Nowadays, most producers emphasize terroir by refraining from the use of pesticides and reducing grape production, but when Leflaive started growing grapes using organic farming methods, reducing the production of grapes was the way to go. It was a time when things were not considered good at all.