Domaine Leflaive : Mâcon-Verzé 2017

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Mâcon-Verzé 2017 from Domaine Leflaive

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a pale yellow hue that is clear, limpid and brilliant.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with great purity, blending floral notes of acacia and hawthorn with a minerality reminiscent of wet stone. It then gains depth with citrus scents such as lemon and orange zest, white fruit such as apple and pear, and a subtle hint of spice.

Palate
On the palate, this white wine is energetic and round. Its ample texture is perfectly balanced by a fine, structuring acidity and a pronounced minerality. The tasting ends with a long, persistent finish recalling white fruit and citrus.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with delicate fish such as cod, pike-perch or sole, as well as with crustaceans and shellfish. It is also an excellent match for white meats such as veal or pork and for poultry, and can be enjoyed with hard cooked-curd cheeses such as a young Comté or with dry goat's cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, serve this Mâcon-Verzé 2017 at a temperature of between 11 and 13°C.

The purity and energy of a white wine from the Mâconnais

The estate

Although the family has been established in Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy since 1717, Domaine Leflaive was truly founded in 1920 by Joseph Leflaive. A pioneer of biodynamics from the 1990s, the estate is renowned worldwide for the purity of its white wines. Today, Brice de la Morandière, the founder's great-grandson, heads the domaine. He upholds its unique style and the family's high standards, while modernising the facilities and developing agroforestry projects to protect this exceptional terroir.

The vineyard

Acquired in 2004, the vineyard that produces the Mâcon-Verzé extends across clay-limestone terroirs in the Verzé valley. The vines, farmed biodynamically since their acquisition, enjoy favourable south-east and south-west exposures. The soils, which are sometimes shallow or rich in flint, encourage the vines to root deeply. The grapes are harvested by hand, with rigorous plot-by-plot monitoring to ensure they are picked at optimal ripeness.

The vintage

2017 is recognised as a high-quality vintage overall in Burgundy. The weather conditions allowed the berries to reach a very favourable level of ripeness while retaining fine acidity, which is essential to the balance of the region's wines.

Vinification and ageing

After a long, gentle pneumatic pressing, the musts of the Mâcon-Verzé 2017 are settled for twenty-four hours. Fermentation and ageing on the lees take place over ten to twelve months in a combination of concrete vats, stainless steel tanks and a small proportion of oak barrels at least one year old. The wine is then racked for a further four to six months of ageing on fine lees in stainless steel tanks, preserving all its freshness before a possible light fining.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay