Domaine Leflaive   Chevalier Montrachet

2012 Chevalier Montrachet

By Domaine Leflaive

2010 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France

An exploration of the 2010 vintage within the Burgundy region offers as its crown jewel, the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive. The particular spectrum of climate anomalies that year bestowed upon us a treasure trove of wines, and this chardonnay is no exception. It grants investors not simply a bottle, but a narrative woven with atmospheric whimsy and viticultural prowess.

 

The Mastery of Elegance in a Challenging Year

In a vintage where even the most skilled vignerons felt nature's severity, Domaine Leflaive rose to the occasion. 2010 was marked by an erratic start, culminating in a summer devoid of excess, which in turn led to a slow maturation of the grapes. These hardships have distilled within the glass, a wine keenly balanced between opulence and vitality.

 

A Vintage That Speaks: A Reflection of Terroir

The 2010 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet unveils subdued minerality that coalesces with an empyrean creaminess that only this portion of Burgundy can accomplish with such finesse. Its body is ample yet never fatiguing; its structure, confident yet supple; a mosaic of honeyed white fruits, lightly toasted hazelnuts and that inherent flintiness championing for its terroir.

The depth here is profound – it does not simply rest on the palate but evolves, hinting at a spectrum of citrus notes underscored by a mature vein of acidity. The result is an outstretching finish that haunts one with persistent élan.

 

Investment Potential: A Distinguished Possession

Lovers and investors alike can appreciate the rarity in possessing such a bottle: the 2010 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive is etched with the vibrancy and adversity of its vintage. It stands today as a herald of longevity and begs for patience from those wise enough to let it unfurl further in cellared sanctum.

To savour such complexity now is enticing, but it remits greater rewards placed under lock and key. This wine entwines itself with long-term investment forecasts – a resolute addition to any portfolio seeking wines capable of graceful evolution.

Current market price

$22,930.00

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

915.33

Scores and tasting notes

95

Dense and reserved, Leflaive's 2012 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of pear, toasted bread, citrus zest, mandarin and crisp peach, framed by a touch of light reduction and new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and powerful, with tangy acids, prodigious concentration and a penetrating, mouthwatering finish. This is a muscular, tight-knit Chevalier that will need time. The product of a humid spring and yields reduced by mildew and hail, by the numbers the 2012 possesses only 13.05% alcohol with a low pH of 3.0.

William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 31 July 2019

Vintage performance