Olivier Leflaive Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru 2022 75cl.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

View:

It comes in a bright golden yellow color with captivating depth. At the edges of the disc it shows subtle greenish flashes and steely reflections, a clear indication of the enormous vitality of the 2022 vintage and of a wine designed to defy time. The clarity is absolute, crystalline and resplendent, a reflection of extremely precise work in the winery that respects the purity of the grapes without altering their natural structure. The tears are dense, glyceric and fall slowly and deliberately. By gently shaking the glass, it forms marked arcs that adhere to the glass, anticipating the high concentration of dry extract, the volume and the tactile opulence of this coveted Grand Cru.

Nose:

From the first moment, the nose unfolds with a dazzling breadth, ethereal and without heaviness. It is a wine that constantly evolves in the glass, revealing new aromatic layers as it gently oxygenates. Notes of highly elegant wild white flowers dominate, such as acacia, jasmine and orange blossom. These are harmoniously intertwined with ripe but very fresh stone fruit, highlighting vine peach, fresh apricot and a sparkling nuance of tangerine peel and yellow grapefruit. With measured and respectful use of the new barrel (between 30% and 35%), the wood acts as an invisible frame. It provides notes of toasted hazelnut, fresh almond, clarified butter and a very subtle touch of warm brioche, without ever masking the fruit. The main protagonist of the aromatic background is its deep calcareous substrate. Notes of wet chalk, flint stone (silex), flint and a marked saline and iodized breeze emerge clearly that provide a very distinctive vertical and austere dimension.

Mouth:

The entrance is majestic, wide, dense and of great impact. It immediately envelops the palate with a rich, unctuous and buttery texture that fills every corner of the mouth. Despite its immense concentration and generous volume, the wine surprises with its agility. The opulence of the 2022 vintage is balanced in a millimetric way with a backbone of very lively, sharp and perfectly integrated citric acidity. This acidity provides a vertical tension that counteracts the fat and gives an astonishing lightness to the whole. It displays impeccable linear architecture; The texture is silky, with an almost tactile and calcareous feel that denotes the nobility of an exceptional soil on limestone parent rock. The finish is extraordinarily long, deep and persistent, lasting for several minutes on the palate and leaving a feeling of total harmony and cleanliness. Upon expiration, memories of candied citrus zest, toasted nuts and a long, austere and markedly saline echo of chalk and limestone reappear with intensity that immediately invites a new sip.

The Olivier Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2022 demands gastronomic proposals of the highest category. Its seamless opulence, creamy texture and vibrant mineral backbone call for dishes that harmonize with its Chardonnay world summit status. The star pairing is the Grilled wild blue lobster with a fine emulsion of its own coral and white truffle butter.

Other High Culinary Recommendations:

• Baked wild turbot with light sea urchin emulsion

• Pan-fried San Pedro loin with sea juice reduction and saffron blades

• Royal crayfish or Palamós carabineros briefly grilled

• Sauteed wild scallops with yuzu emulsion and fresh ginger

• Pularda de Bresse roasted at low temperature with creamed morel mushroom sauce and summer truffle

• Extra old Comté (minimum 36 months of tuning)

• Brillat-Savarin enriched with thin slices of fresh black truffle