2009 Chevalier Montrachet
By Domaine Leflaive
2007 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France
The noble 2007 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive holds a sterling reputation among aficionados and investors alike. Domaine Leflaive, a beacon of Burgundian excellence, again proved with this vintage its mastery of the Chardonnay varietal. My encounters with this wine over the years have been marked by its consistent evolution and remarkable complexity.
Vintage Character: A Study in Elegance
Burgundy's 2007 vintage was one that tested the mettle and skill of its vignerons. A cool summer followed by an unexpectedly warm early September brought about rapid ripening which, handled meticulously by the team at Domaine Leflaive, resulted in Chardonnays of extraordinary finesse and balance. The 2007 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from this hallowed estate is no exception; it illustrates these characteristics with poetic grace.
A Confluence of Climatic Nuances
Pouring this straw-gold elixir into the glass reveals first an enticing bouquet — a melange of honeysuckle, ripe pear, and toasted brioche, suggestive of its time spent in judiciously selected oak. These aromas translate onto the palate as an intricate tapestry woven from fresh citrus zest, warm almond, and a distinctive flinty minerality that anchors the wine's ethereal qualities with the essence of its terroir.
The 2007 vintage was a climatic tightrope walk, producing in turn wines that are both buoyantly fresh and possess layers of depth; qualities keenly expressed in this Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. Domaine Leflaive's skills ensured that under their stewardship this Chardonnay not only weathered the whims of nature but thrived, capturing a snapshot of 2007's idiosyncratic conditions.
As an investment piece, the distinguished 2007 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive promises allure. It is a vintage that has achieved maturity with grace and stands as a testament to artistry in winemaking — a compelling addition for connoisseurs seeking depth, elegance, and longevity in their portfolio.
In summary, the 2007 vintage of Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet presented challenges that have been masterfully translated into an expression of subtlety and strength by Domaine Leflaive. For investors looking to diversify with finesse and provenance, this offering remains an unassailable choice.
Market price (USD)
$16,410.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
960
Scores and tasting notes
A charming, fleshy wine, the 2009 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru offers up a generous bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, confit lemon, pears, warm bread, honeycomb and mandarin. On the palate, it's full-bodied, lavish and enveloping, with a textural attack, a rich and ample core of fruit and a long, expansive finish. This is a ripe but open-knit vintage of Leflaive's Chevalier, even though with 13.45% alcohol it's lower-octane than all the top vintages of the Pierre Morey era. If the wine has a fault, it's one extensible to the vintage as a whole: a lack of liveliness and tension.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 31 July 2019