Among the most famous white wine domaines of Burgundy, Domaine Leflaive is now run by Brice de La Morandière. The domaine dates back to 1717, with Joseph Leflaive (1870-1953) bringing the wines to the world’s attention. His two sons Vincent and Jo took over, followed by Anne-Claude Leflaive, who assumed sole control in 1994, until her death in 2015.
Corney & Barrow is the exclusive agent of Domaine Leflaive in the UK and Singapore. The Domaine Leflaive 2019s were among the first wines released, in December. Click here to see the offer.

BOURGOGNE BLANC

For those who are not label conscious this is the smart buy of the Domaine’s wines. Drawn from three tiny plots totaling just 4.31 hectares (10.65 acres). Les Parties, Les Houlières and La Plante des Champs. This is a beautifully accomplished wine in 2019, refined on the nose, confident, subtly creamy and with a touch of mineral zest. The palate is tautly structured, but quite forward, with full, lightly sweet white fruit flavours, nicely weighted and with real length on the finish. Super wine.

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2021 – 2024

£270/Case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£300/Case of 3 magnums, in bond UK

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET

There is an intricacy to this wine that is quite special, drawn as it is from seven tiny parcels (Les Reuchaux, Les Grands Champs, La Rue aux Vaches, Les Houlières, Les Nosroyes, Les Brelances and Les Tremblots). The oldest vines are from les Tremblots (1955), the youngest

(2003) from Les Brelances. Bringing these ingredients all together is very nicely done in 2019 with the wine offering an almost lemon-curd, Riesling-redolent perfume, open and expressive. The fruit is firm with a hint of sweetness, almost sexiness, with an effortless

acidity and that characteristic Puligny insistence and lightness of touch on the finish. Too often overlooked for the more glamorous 1er Crus but even a casual glance at

the ingredients will make you pause…

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2021 – 2024

£475/Case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£505/Case of 3 magnums, in bond UK

MEURSAULT 1ER CRU SOUS LE DOS D’ÂNE

This is another off the radar wine whose vineyard, was replanted to Chardonnay from 1995. Its location – a cool hollow close to the Hamlet of Blagny – and because this is Leflaive after all, offers a wine that is almost always more

subtle than the traditional “fat” style of the appellation. So it is in 2019 which shows a slightly reductive, “struck match” nose, tight and refined and a palate of both density and tension with sweet, almost lush fruit but a fresh, pure, extended finish. I think it is almost time for another Meursault Sous le Dos d’Ane retrospective tasting, perhaps blind…

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2024

£630/Case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£660/Case of 3 magnums, in bond UK

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU CLAVOILLON

Black sheep to white swan…might best summarise the wonderful development in this vineyard, 85% of which is owned by the Domaine – all 4.79 hectares (11.84

acres) of it! I scored the 2019 at the same level as the fabulous 2018, perhaps because it also relished the two heat waves at the end of June and July. Whatever, here is a lovely Clavoillon, white fruited of course but with a (first time I have used this word for Clavoillon) haunting perfume of biscuity rich ripeness. Simultaneously there is also a lovely tension and concentration to the wine, a mouthwatering elegance, density and length. Coo. As you

can see, I rather liked this wine.

Corney & Barrow Score 18

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2025

£655/Case of 6 bottles, in bond UK

£685/Case of 3 magnums, in bond UK