Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Referts', Domaine Olivier Leflaive 2021

Description

Olivier Leflaive is the son of Joseph, nephew of Vincent and cousin of Anne-Claude. He was co-manager of Domaine Leflaive with his uncle Vincent from 1982-1990, and with Anne-Claude from 1990-1994, by which time the négociant business, which he had started in 1985 in order to have some wines to play with outside Puligny-Montrachet, had really blossomed. It was time, in the interests of both parts, to withdraw from the domaine and concentrate on Olivier Leflaive Frères.  He employed the talented Jean-Marc Boillot as winemaker and initially had no vineyards and bought in grapes from selected growers. Under the auspices of winemaker Frank Grux, since 1988, the wines are vinified exactly as they would be at any other first-class Burgundy domaine, with all the whites being barrel-fermented and being aged in small oak barriques. Olivier Leflaive is looking for elegance and finesse rather than power and ‘specularité’. There is little new-oak effect and his wines are usually attractive young. The wines are hallmarks of elegance and purity rather than muscle and are more than worthy of the famous Leflaive name.

Referts is the closest "Climat" to Meursault 1er Cru Charmes, divided by the famous "Chemin des Moînes" (the monks path). The soil is marly at the top and and more ferruginous at the bottom, therefore it produces a more unctuous and a fatter wine than the others.

This cuvee spends 16 months (4 months in stainless steel tank) in 100 % oak barrels (25% of new oak).

Nice nose where citrus fruits mingle with notes of almond blossom. The mouth of a beautiful salinity presents some notes of eucalyptus. A wine of supreme poise and self-assurance.