6 Bottles of Olivier Leflaive 2007 Chardonnay in Frederick Wildman Rolling Bag

2 bottles of  O Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles AC 07

2 bottles of  O Leflaive Puligny Montrachet AC 07

2 bottles of O. Leflaive Meursault Charmes AC 07

Producer Background: Olivier Leflaive was formed in 1984 by Olivier and his brother Patrick. Unlike a conventional negociant who buys finished wines, the firm actually vinifies a wide range of Burgundian appellations from grapes and must (or juice) and now owns 25 acres. Under the supervision of winemaker Franck Grux, the wines are vinified, blended, and aged exactly as they would be at a top-rank domaine.

Wine Type: Dry White

Grape Type: 100% Chardonnay.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Vinification: There are many localities formed with the word 'Charmes,' which in Burgundy means old communal cultivated fields allowed to lie fallow. Here, we prefer to talk about a charming, enjoyable wine. The soil is rich in clay which gives the wine its buttery flavor and fat. However, the limestone present in the soil again imparts subtle secondary aromas. This is the best known and largest climat in Meursault.

Malolactic fermentation being always desired, ageing on the lees is encouraged to occur for as long as possible, checked by regular tastings. The first racking generally takes place generally after 12 to 15 months, by a blending of the different origins into a stainless vat. Several weeks later, fining occurs to allow for complete sedimentation of remaining deposits. Bottling is done between 15 and 18 months after light or no filtration.

2007 Harvest Notes:

The 2006-7 winter was generally mild, with temperatures rarely below zero. The vegetation developed earlier than usual, with budding on 15th March. Growth was not completely regular, and April was very warm, while May was both warm and dry, allowing more precocious parcels to begin flowering on May 20th. Colder, fresher temperatures set in, and less developed vines faced a prolonged, difficult flowering, or millerandage, the uneven maturation of berries within the bunch. June brought sufficient rain to swell the grapes perfectly. Véraison started in mid-July but the weather forecast was poor, and numerous storms came in early summer.

To this point, 2007 appeared a precocious vintage. Beautiful, hot, bright weather began August 15th and lasted until the end of September. Harvest dates for Pinot Noir: August 28th–September 8th, 2007. Harvest dates for Chardonnay: September 3rd–18th, 2007

The Quality of the 2007 Vintage:

Pinot Noir in the Côte de Beaune. The grapes were smaller in 2007, but there were more of them than in 2006. Ripeness was not homogenous, and it was essential to carefully sort the grapes to ensure only those fully ripe were kept. Following the fermentations, the wines are well colored, the fruit being impeccable, the tannins fine, but they’re not particularly concentrated. They are delightful to taste; it is perhaps possible to compare them with certain 1997s.

Chardonnay in the Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise. The good weather permitted us to wait until just the right moment to harvest, when the grapes had reached perfect maturity. As in 2004, the volume of grapes is quite good, the sugar level is ideal, and the health of the grapes is perfect. Only the acidity is a little excessive, especially, the malic acid levels. Following malolactic, the wines are fairly classic and elegant, if a little taut. They will benefit from further nourishment on their lees during the coming spring.

—Franck GRUX, winemaker at Maison Olivier Leflaive for over 15 years

Puligny-Montrachet, March 3rd, 2008

Tasting Notes: "A more elegant and certainly broader nose displays notes of citrus, white flower and white peach with a hint of brioche that serves as a more refined introduction to the clean, crisp and pure medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent vibrancy and detail on the mouth coating finish. I like the style of this as it’s very understated and linear." 89-92 pts.

-Burghound, July 2009

Food Match: scallops, grilled vegetables, fish, crab.