2004 Chevalier Montrachet
By Domaine Leflaive
2002 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of exquisite white Burgundy, the 2002 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive marks a year of sublime equilibrium and exceptional grace. This particular vintage nestles in the memory with as much poise as the wine itself rests upon the palate.
A Vintage With a Voice
Some vintages sing, others speak; the 2002 articulates with the eloquence of a seasoned orator. A marvellous growing season, marked by an auspicious blend of warmth and precipitation, forged the perfect crucible for this exalted Chardonnay. The region’s venerable terroir, working in concert with Domaine Leflaive's renowned vinicultural practices, produced a liquid tapestry vibrant with nuances.
Distinguished investors looking to secure profound epics in oenological form would find a faithful companion in this 2002 vignette from Burgundy. As custodians of this liquid history, one relishes not just the investment but also the potential evolution of the bottle's contents.
Investment Wisdom: Complex Character, Refined Potential
The 2002 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet delineates its individuality with layered complexity – an intricate dance of aromatic minerality accompanied by citrus tones and honed acidity that reveal Domaine Leflaive's consummate skill. Its longevity is ensured by its precise construction and innate vibrancy, marking it out as one of the most covetable assets for connoisseurs discerning enough to appreciate its trajectory through the annals of time.
For those vested in more than just pecuniary gain, twenty years on this vintage continues to unfurl like a treasured map to past climes – a journey across palates and memories alike. Every sip resonates with a sense of place and moment, rendering each glass an investment in sensory dividends.
Summarising Elegance
In conclusion, the allure of 2002 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive lies within its elegant maturity and assured lineage. For investors and aficionados alike, this embodiment of Burgundian craftsmanship resonates with the sort of authenticity that assures not only a sound financial footing but promises an experience steeped in the richness of viticulture storytelling.
Market price (GBP)
£11,290.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
868.46
Scores and tasting notes
All of Domaine Leflaive's 2004s were heavily reduced out of the gates—the Pucelles being the worst offender—and the 2004 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is still quite strongly marked by the toasty aromas of reduction, offering up notes of grilled bread, pear, dried white flowers, honeycomb and iodine. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and textural, with a bright spine of acidity and a tight-knit, compact profile that's still quite firm and unyielding, with good concentration and a somewhat mordant, delicately herbaceous finish. My reservation here is that while this is a fine wine in its introverted, reductive style, it's at odds with the aesthetic that defined the great Leflaive wines of the 1970s and 1980s—wines that were all about elegance and satiny plenitude.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 31 July 2019