Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Premier Cru 2022 Wine (75cl)

Retained as supporting identification copy; the structured facts and evidence links above are kept separate.

This climat is located in the town of Puligny just north of the Bâtard and Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet with the same altitude and soil. This climat is often considered as the best Premier in Puligny and can rival its neighbors in some vintages where its minerality will contrast with the intensity of the two Bâtards.Blend: 100% Chardonnay Medium deep, pale yellow in colour. Plenty of fruit is immediately apparent on the nose, but seems a little more backward, less in harmony today. A mix of ripe citrus fruits, lemon, orange and grapefruit, so ripe enough. Then the 2022 Pucelles grows into what I would expect: really quite complex and with a zesty finale. Superb grace and length, with further volumes of fruit reappearing at the back. Keeps on going. Grand cru quality on the palate, and, taking the slight recalcitrance of the bouquet as a temporary issue, I am happy to award the full five stars to what should become a grand Pucelles. Barrel Sample: 94-96 The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru has a subtle menthol note in the background, indicative of the concentration bestowed by the growing season. There's a hint of exoticism, yet it doesn't overwhelm the terroir expression. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with a wonderful umami sensation and razor-sharp acidity (incredible in a warm vintage). It is harmonious with a lightly spiced finish and traces of Vervane and white pepper on the aftertaste. The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles reasserts its traditional role as Leflaive's dominant premier cru this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, clear honey, white flowers and orange oil, framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it's pure and enveloping, with a sweet core of fruit, lively acids and a long, precise finish.