Wine review of 2014 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet White, Burgundy, France
Score: 91+/100
The Maison Olivier Leflaive is located in the heart of the prestigious Burgundy winegrowing village of Puligny-Montrachet, right where one of the best expression of Chardonnay from Cote de Beaune is produced. The house is hosted in a typical 17th century building.
While Olivier Leflaive is arguable most famous for its Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines, from the Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard in particular, a house must also be judged by the quality of its humbler village appellation wines, especially when the said village the house calls its home.
While tasting this Puligny-Montrachet Chardonnay by Olivier Leflaive, I was therefore made to believe this very wine somewhat represents the essence of the house, rightly so or not!
In any way, unless you can afford the top Grand Cru wines, if you want to get a taste of what Olivier Leflaive can make from Puligny, chances are you will first try this very wine…
This is aged for 16 months in total, including 4 months in stainless steel tank, before another full year (12 months) 100% in oak wine barrels (20% of them from new oak).
So, How Good is Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Wine?
The Answer is in the Tasting Notes
This Burgundy Chardonnay comes in a bright and shiny lemon-yellow color of medium intensity, although made deeper by hints of a gold hue.
The nose is both catchy and somewhat powerful for a Burgundy white, but also elegant, subtlem and mineral.
Punchy notes of dough, on the sour side, and toasted nuts, are the dominant aromas.
As you swirl the glass, the primary characters, floral notes of lily and elderflower, with fresh apricot and zesty lemon come through vibrantly always coated in a delicate buttery brioche goodness. Some oaky spices and hints of caramel lift up the aromatic profile and provide a sense of depth.
A vibrant and complex nose that certainly charms at first smell!
On the palate, the wine feels dry, mineral from a crisp acidity that provides and sustain tension all along the tasting experience, yet balanced by an oily-enough texture.
Bursts of subtle tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango, backed up by rich ripe peach, come in combination with powerful spicy oak notes. The acidity underlines both the freshness of the fruity and floral character, but more importantly outlines the strong tones of sour dough.
Rather long and layered a finish on sweet/savory flavors.
Overall
A delightful, complex Chardonnay wine, filled with acidic tension and lees ageing goodness this 2014 Puligny-Montrachet by Olivier Leflaive is.
Relatively light-bodied, which helps with is approachability and it’s the purity of its fruity expression, it delivers all the layers we love and expect from a very good Burgundy white. Pungent aromas and flavors are delivered with a lean and crisp minerality, and a perfectly controlled finesse.
Enjoy ?
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