Domaine des Comtes Lafon   Meursault les Perrieres

2003 Meursault les Perrieres

By Domaine des Comtes Lafon

2001 Chevalier Montrachet by Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France

In the pantheon of white Burgundies, the 2001 vintage holds a particularly enigmatic status, shimmering with complexity and grace. The 2001 Chevalier Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive is a quintessential example of this illustrious year's prodigious offering - demonstrating that with the correct alchemy of time and nature, wine transcends mere drink to become liquid history.

 

A Vintage Captured in a Bottle

Domaine Leflaive, a guardian of Burgundian excellence, has encapsulated the unique climatic idiosyncrasies of the 2001 vintage in their Chevalier Montrachet. This year was marked by an unanticipated alliance of elements, with a cool spring giving way to an equitable summer, cultivating optimum ripeness in the grapes without forsaking their vital acidity. The resultant wine thus speaks of a balance almost celestial in its precision.

 

Enthralling Elixir: A Collector's Jewel

The allure of the 2001 Chevalier Montrachet lies in its mesmerising bouquet; a mélange of ripe stone fruits, toasted almond nuances, and an ethereal flintiness that is the hallmark of the finest white Burgundies. On the palate, one discerns layers upon layers - peaches ensconced in cream juxtaposed against a vibrant mineral spine. The finish is long and harmoniously integrated, telling tales of its esteemed terroir.

An investment into this particular bottle from Domaine Leflaive wouldn't merely be a venture into fine wine but an acquisition of a fragment of viticulture lore. Its evolution over the past two decades underscores its pedigree: evolving magnificently in the bottle, yet resolutely poised with a youthful vigour that hints at further decades of potential unravelment.

 

A Masterful Melange for Savvy Investors

For connoisseurs considering strategic diversification into wines of stature and rarity, the 2001 Chevalier Montrachet is an astute choice. Its enduring appeal reflects Domaine Leflaive's deftness in capturing year-specific subtleties. Aged to near perfection yet distinctly alive with developmental prospects, this bottle stands as one of the most compelling narratives of what Burgundy characterises - an unending quest to imprint time upon taste.

Current market price

$10,330.00

12x75cl

Highest score

89

POP score

687.78

Scores and tasting notes

88-90

Aromatically demure, the 2003 Meursault Perrieres (white) reluctantly reveals notes of gun flint. This satin-textured, light to medium-bodied wine displays flavors of smoky slate, spices, roasted minerals, and anise before tapering off. It should be drunk over the next 8 years. Importers: Daniel Johnnes/Jeroboam Wines, New York, NY; tel. (212) 625-2505, Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA; tel. (617) 469-5799; and Beaune Imports, Berkeley Ca; tel. (510) 841-9815

Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 28 April 2005

Vintage performance