DOMAINE LEFLAIVE
BURGUNDY, FRANCE
WHY BUY:
Not just THE greatest white wines in the world, but some of the greatest wines in the world, period, full stop. We had the great good fortune recently of tasting through Domaine Leflaive's 2023 portfolio (including their 98-point Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru and their 96-point Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru — ethereal-level scores for white wines — and 3 rare Grand Crus) and were reminded, yet again, of just how extraordinary, how majestic, how three-dimensional, and how absolutely indelibly memorable the wines of Leflaive are. Not only are these Burgundies of incomparable depth, complexity, harmony, balance, and length, but we simply have to say it (and yes, we are fully prepared to die on this hill): they express their exalted terroir like none other.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Vinous's Neal Martin awarded the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023 a stunning 98 points, declaring: "This riveted me to the spot, and is one of the finest expressions of this holding that I have encountered in over 25 years of tasting at Leflaive ... The palate is crisp and taut, much more mineral-driven than the Bienvenue with a really complex and persistent finish that is a joy to behold." Martin was also taken with the Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023, noting, in his 96-point rave for Vinous: "the palate is very well balanced with intense yellow and white fruit, less minerally than the Bâtard perhaps with just a hint of wild honey on the finish.” The Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2023 also came in for admiration and affection from Martin, who called it "excellent,” with a palate that is "fresh and vibrant with a silver bead of acidity,” and that "gains weight in the mouth” as it proceeds along to its "very saline” finish.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
Incomparable richness. Elegant, supple structures. Runway-length finishes. Those are the qualities that leap out at us when trying to put the essence of these gorgeous Puligny-Montrachets into words. What Neal Martin described in the Bâtard as "crisp and taut" and "mineral-driven" applies across the range, as well — these are wines of head-shaking precision. The Grand Crus showcase the full majesty of what Leflaive can achieve. The Bâtard is riveting in its intensity, the Chevalier is balanced and poised with hints of wild honey, and the Bienvenues fairly explode with energy and vivacity (along with a beautiful bead of acidity and saline finish). As for the Bourgogne Blanc, it knocked us out with its developed, nuanced flavors and textures, which are hallmarks, generally, of much older vintages and much more exalted parcels.
THE STORY:
Many family businesses struggle to make it past the second generation. And then there’s the family Leflaive, which has been perfecting Chardonnay in Puligny-Montrachet since the United States was called British America. Founded in 1717, Domaine Leflaive is among the most venerable names in wine, but what that amounts to, practically, is three centuries of accumulated knowledge, all focused on working premier cru and grand cru vineyards. Brice de La Morandière, the current director and great-grandson of founder Joseph Leflaive, understands something crucial: you don't improve on centuries of winemaking by abandoning what works. He’s passionate in his commitment to biodynamic farming, to long natural fermentations, and to using only indigenous yeasts — not because it’s trendy, or even because “that’s how it used to be done,” but because the default setting here is to let the grapes speak for themselves, which means tending the land (some of the most exalted in all of the wine world) with almost devotional care. What separates Leflaive from producers stuck in tradition is their willingness to evolve infrastructure while preserving philosophy. Over the past decade, they undertook a thorough renovation of their wine storehouse and cellars, a commitment to the future that suggests they're thinking in terms of the next three centuries, not the next three quarters.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
The ultimate in food-friendly wines, they’re to enhance nearly any preparation of fish, seafood, risotto, and even chicken. But you owe it to yourself to let them work their spell on you, solo, as you would any bottle of red Burgundy or Bordeaux.
OUR GUARANTEE:
We always buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st-March 20th, 2026). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA. This offer will expire on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025.