Why it matters
The producer
Domaine Leflaive places Puligny Montrachet Chardonnay at the centre of its estate wines, while Esprit Leflaive extends the name into red and white Burgundy through selected grower partnerships. The domaine's own vineyards include premier cru and grand cru parcels, with Montrachet as its named grand cru wine.
The Leflaive family established roots in Puligny Montrachet with Claude Leflaive in 1717. The domaine became a pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, using methods based on natural and ecological principles and respect for fauna and flora. Esprit Leflaive adds a separate négociant range to the estate's white Burgundy base.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Puligny Montrachet belongs to the Côte de Beaune, where Chardonnay occupies the estate vineyards. Esprit Leflaive also works across the Côte de Nuits, Chablis and the Mâconnais, so the range moves between white and red wines, different appellations and different regional settings.
In Burgundy, premier cru and grand cru identify vineyard levels on the label. Grand cru names the highest vineyard classification, while premier cru identifies the tier below it. Domaine Leflaive's Puligny holdings include both levels, while Esprit Leflaive includes Pommard, Beaune, Nuits Saint Georges and Corton among its red Burgundy addresses.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Domaine Leflaive holds 24 hectares in Puligny Montrachet, including 4.8 hectares of grand cru and 10.8 hectares of premier cru. All of these holdings are planted to Chardonnay.
Montrachet receives long, gentle pneumatic pressing followed by decanting over 24 hours. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place in oak casks. The wine then ages 12 months in oak barrels on lees and 10 months in stainless steel on fine lees. Lees ageing keeps fine yeast material in contact with the wine, adding texture while the final period in steel preserves freshness.
Wines to know
The range in view
The estate range centres on white Burgundy from Puligny Montrachet, including Montrachet Grand Cru and the domaine's other Chardonnay appellations. Esprit Leflaive forms the broader négociant range, with wines from the Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits, Chablis and Mâconnais.
The red Burgundy selection runs from Pommard Premier Cru Les Arvelets and Beaune Premier Cru Les Tuvilains to Nuits Saint Georges and Corton Grand Cru Les Grandes Lolières. The labels move from village and premier cru addresses to a named grand cru wine. The white Esprit range follows the same wider regional sourcing through appellations beyond Puligny Montrachet.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose Corton Grand Cru Les Grandes Lolières. It is the Esprit line's grand cru red, placing a named Corton address beside the range's village and premier cru bottles. The wine is organic Pinot Noir from the négociant venture, with grapes sourced through grower partnerships and vinified in the Puligny Montrachet cellar. The bottle presents Esprit Leflaive as a Burgundy range that includes a classified red vineyard alongside its broader regional wines.