About Domaine Leflaive
Joseph Leflaive assembled the domaine in the 1920s from vineyards his family had held in Puligny since 1717. It now covers Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, a sliver of Le Montrachet itself, and premier crus including Les Pucelles, Les Combettes, Les Folatières and Clavoillon, which is the largest holding. Anne-Claude Leflaive converted the vineyards to biodynamics through the 1990s after running trial plots side by side, and the estate has been farmed that way since. Her cousin Brice de La Morandière has run it since 2015.
White Burgundy from Puligny is built to age, and the best of it stands with the grand crus of the Côte d'Or. Our Grand Cru Wines and Burgundy Wines pages carry the neighboring estates, and Chardonnay follows the grape beyond Burgundy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Domaine Leflaive make?
Chardonnay almost exclusively, from Puligny-Montrachet and the grand crus above it: Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet and a small parcel of Le Montrachet. The premier crus Les Pucelles, Les Combettes, Les Folatières and Clavoillon make up most of the production.
Is Domaine Leflaive biodynamic?
Yes. Anne-Claude Leflaive ran side-by-side trials through the early 1990s and converted the whole estate by 1997, making it one of the first significant domaines in Burgundy to farm this way.
Does Domaine Leflaive suffer from premature oxidation?
Bottles from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s were affected, as they were across white Burgundy, and the estate changed its corks and pressing in response. Vintages from roughly 2008 onward have held up far better, and older bottles are worth buying only with provenance you can check.
How long should you cellar Domaine Leflaive?
The premier crus generally drink well between five and fifteen years. Chevalier-Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet can run twenty or more in a cold cellar, though recent vintages are the safer bet for a long hold.