Domaine Leflaive – Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Clavoillon 2018 – Burgundy France

Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Clavoillon 2018 is a refined biodynamic Chardonnay from the domaine’s substantial 4.69-hectare holding in this celebrated Premier Cru vineyard. The warm 2018 vintage brings generous fruit and texture, while the wine retains the mineral precision, freshness, and balance that define Domaine Leflaive.

🍷 At a Glance

• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2018
• Vineyard: Clavoillon
• Vineyard Area: 4.69 hectares
• Vine Plantings: 1962, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1983, 1988, and 2012
• Soil: Clay-limestone
• Farming: Biodynamic
• Harvest: Manual, with grape sorting and parcel-by-parcel ripeness monitoring
• Aging: 12 months in barrel on lees, followed by 10 months in stainless steel on fine lees
• Style: Generous, mineral-driven Premier Cru white Burgundy

👃 Tasting Notes & Experience

• Body: Medium to full-bodied
• Fruit: Ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, citrus
• Floral: White flowers
• Savory: Almond and fine lees complexity
• Minerality: Chalk, crushed stone, saline notes
• Structure: Polished texture, fresh acidity, and a long, precise finish

The 2018 Clavoillon is generous yet beautifully controlled, showing ripe orchard fruit, citrus, and white peach over a firm mineral backbone. Subtle floral notes, almond, and fine lees complexity add dimension, while fresh acidity keeps the palate focused and energetic. The finish is long, balanced, and distinctly saline, combining the richness of the vintage with Puligny-Montrachet’s hallmark precision.

The 2018 growing season began with a cool, humid winter and a slow start to spring before temperatures rose rapidly in April. Plentiful rain in May and June supported healthy development, followed by sustained summer heat and a refreshing rainfall on August 13. Harvest began on August 26 under radiant, relatively cool conditions, with healthy grapes showing an excellent balance between sugar and acidity.

❤️ Why We Love It

• Produced from Domaine Leflaive’s substantial holding in Clavoillon Premier Cru
• Biodynamic farming and parcel-by-parcel monitoring preserve vineyard expression
• The 2018 vintage delivers richness and ripeness while retaining freshness
• Extended aging on lees builds texture, complexity, and precision

🍽️ Food Pairing Ideas

• Seared scallops with beurre blanc
• Roasted turbot or Dover sole
• Lobster, crab, or langoustines
• Roast chicken with morels
• Comté, Beaufort, or aged goat cheese

👤 Who This Wine Is For

✓ Collectors of Domaine Leflaive and Premier Cru white Burgundy
✓ Chardonnay lovers seeking richness balanced by mineral precision
✓ Drinkers who appreciate structured, age-worthy Puligny-Montrachet
✓ Those looking for a generous yet refined expression of the 2018 vintage
✕ Not ideal if you prefer light, simple, fruit-forward Chardonnay

⚙️ Production

The biodynamically farmed Chardonnay grapes were harvested by hand, sorted, and selected through parcel-by-parcel ripeness monitoring. After long, gentle pneumatic pressing, the juice settled for 24 hours before being racked into barrels. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations took place in oak casks. The wine aged for 12 months in barrel on lees, followed by 10 months in stainless steel on fine lees. Fining and light filtration were used only if necessary.