Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 (750ML)

99 DE / 98 WA / 97-99 JM / 96-98 BH

This wine was too young to drink when tasted at the winery shortly after release, but it amply demonstrated both the quality and potential for aging. There was an almost-unbelievable concentration of aroma, with lemon peel and lime leaf leading the way, accented with notes of smoke, chalky, saline mineral notes, and a hint of fresh cream and spice. The texture was broad and rich, yet there was surprising freshness for the vintage. The combination of density, vibrant acidity and profoundly complex aromas mean this will age forever. Try to wait a decade before pulling the cork.—Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

The 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru dominates the range this year, wafting from the glass with notes of waxy citrus zest, white flowers, nutmeg and wet stones, followed by a full-bodied, racy and electric palate, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, seamless mid-palate. Chiseled and concentrated, uniting texture and tension, it concludes with a long, penetrating finish.—William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Tasting note: Strikingly elegant, cool and restrained aromas are comprised by notes of citrus confit, mineral reduction, anise, exotic tea and the classic acacia blossom nuances. The almost painfully intense medium-bodied flavors are at once succulent yet chiseled while the practically pungent minerality adds a sense of lift to the hugely long finish that is youthfully austere and Zen-like in its harmony. This is quite simply majestic in its class and grace and is a wine that should age effortlessly for years. Don’t Miss, Allen Meadows, Burghound

A little more lemon in the colour and notably more of the gunflint reduction. Pierre thinks this is at least in part typical of Chevalier. They are at the top of the vineyard, with just 30 hl/ha in 2020. Take your time and the fruit starts to push up through. All in white fruit, apples rather than pear or white peach, with still that smoky flinty quality in the background. Perfectly poised on the palate with length and class. Tasted: May 2022.—Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy