Olivier Leflaive : Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Abbaye de Morgeot" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Abbaye de Morgeot" 2023 by Olivier Leflaive

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a pale golden yellow hue, illuminated by subtle green highlights, showcasing beautiful brilliance.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with warm notes of dried fruits and vine peach, complemented by delicate floral touches. On aeration, buttery and brioche-like nuances mingle with a fine minerality.

Palate
Full-bodied and sophisticated, the palate offers an elegant texture and beautiful density. Flavours of yellow fruits, such as apricot and peach, intertwine with notes of fig and limestone. The balance is perfect, leading to a persistent finish that is fresh, mineral and saline.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with seafood such as oysters or clams. It also enhances white-fleshed poultry served with a creamy sauce, grilled or poached fish, as well as soft ripened cheeses or hard cheeses such as Comté.

Serving and Cellaring

For optimal tasting, this Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Abbaye de Morgeot" 2023 should be served at a temperature between 12 and 14°C, having been decanted one to two hours beforehand. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2035.

The Refined Expression of a Great Chassagne-Montrachet Wine by Olivier Leflaive

The Estate

Founded in October 1984 by Olivier Leflaive, his brother and his uncle, the Olivier Leflaive house is a key figure in Burgundy. Located in Puligny-Montrachet, the estate stands out for its dual status as both a négociant-éleveur and a wine-growing domaine. Still run today by its founder, the company farms around 26 hectares of vines of its own. A pioneer of wine tourism in the region, the estate is renowned for its environmentally conscious approach and its constant pursuit of pure terroir expression.

The Vineyard

The "Abbaye de Morgeot" climat is located in the lower part of the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation, on gentle south-south-east-facing slopes, at an altitude ranging from 230 to 250 metres. The vines flourish on deep clay-limestone soils, rich in iron oxide, resting on a bedrock of Bathonian limestone. The estate cultivates these plots by promoting biodiversity and mechanical soil work.

The Vintage

2023 proved to be a particularly demanding year, marked by record temperatures and a significant water deficit during the growing cycle. These high temperatures were compounded by strong pressure from fungal diseases. Nevertheless, these extreme conditions allowed for rapid ripening and beautiful concentration in the berries. Thanks to a generous harvest and rigorous sorting, the grapes achieved remarkable quality.

Winemaking and Ageing

The harvest is carried out entirely by hand. On arrival at the winery, the whole bunches undergo gentle pneumatic pressing, followed by static settling. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place exclusively in French oak barrels. Ageing lasts 18 months in total. It begins with a bulk blend on fine lees for six months, without racking or lees stirring, before continuing in barrels (25% new oak) for the remaining twelve months.

Grape Variety

Chardonnay (100%)