Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Marc (Recolte du Domaine) 2017
Olivier Leflaive
In 1984 Olivier and Patrick Leflaive left the family business, Domaine Leflaive, to establish the negociant house that bears their name. At the same time, they agreed with their family at Domaine Leflaive that the vineyards they owned would remain under contract with the Domaine. This contract came to term in 2010 and the vineyards have now come back under the control of Olivier and Patrick Leflaive and their company, Olivier Leflaive Frères. It is a spectacular holding including parcels of Bâtard Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet Pucelles and Meursault Blagny. These holdings join the properties in Chassagne Montrachet, Abbaye de Morgeot and Clos St Marc, that have always been managed by Olivier Leflaive Frères and bring the new Domaine Olivier Leflaive to a total of close to 17 hectares, most Premier and Grand Cru. The new parcels are referred to as Recolte du Domaine and are all farmed biodynamically (as they were under the management of Domaine Leflaive). The first vintage for these new wines is 2010.
Terroir: Clos Saint Marc is a 4.2 acre walled vineyard on a hillside within the 1er Cru Les Vergers on the north border of the appellation overlooking St Aubin and Le Montrachet directly to the north. The domaine owns 2.15 acres in the heart of the vineyard. Vines here are farmed organically in argilo-calcareous soils and average 18 years old.
Vinification: Grapes are hand harvested and pressed as whole berries upon arrival at the winery. Fermentation occurs entirely in oak, 25% of which is new. The young wines are aged in oak for a total of 12 months before resting in stainless steel for an additional 5 months prior to bottling.
Additional Information
Orange blossom, racy, streamlined palate to a vivacious and lively finish. Delightful.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet
- Winemaker: Franck Grux
- Sustainability: Organic Practices
- Soil: Argilo-calcareous
- Vineyard Acreage: .87ha
- Alcohol: 12%
- Sizes Available: 750ml
- Pack Size: 12/750ml
- Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Recent Press
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Score: 92 Points
Wine Spectator Author: Bruce Sanderson
Date: Friday, August 14, 2020"The creamy texture makes an ideal foil for the flavors of peach, lemon cake and mineral in this white. Beautifully balanced and expressive, echoing the fruit and picking up toasty, spicy notes on the long finish. Drink now through 2026. 30 cases imported." -
Score: 93 Points
The Wine Advocate Author: William Kelley
Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2019"Offering up a lovely bouquet of Anjou pear, citrus oil, pomelo, hazelnuts and spice, the 2017 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Marc (Récolte du Domaine) is medium to full-bodied, elegant and satiny, with a delicately textural attack, excellent cut and concentration and a long, tangy finish. Like all of the "Récolte du Domaine" bottlings this year, it's pristinely balanced and will be well worth seeking out."
