1997 Domaine Leflaive Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

A classic Bƒtard nose of rich, almost buttery white flower aromas that are slightly marred by a hint of reduction leads to relatively rich, full and sappy flavors that are fat, round and palate coating. As is usually the case with this wine, there is first rate length and a truly beguiling mouth feel though not necessarily great complexity. By the exalted standards of this wine, it's rather a very good than genuinely great Leflaive Bƒtard.

Author: Allen Meadows

Issue: 1st Quarter, 2008

Beautiful harmony from start to finish. Layers of attractive smoke, honey and ripe fruit are kept in focus as the seduction wraps around the palate. Not a big wine, but subtle.

Author: Per-Henrik Mansson

Deeper-pitched, superripe nut oil aroma complicated by a hint of menthol. Dense, thick and mouthfilling; extremely young, rather powerful wine with a bit of youthful aggressiveness. Almost tannic on the aftertaste. Got better and better with aeration.

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: September/October 1999

Leflaive's fabulous 1997 Batard-Montrachet offers super-ripe aromas of candied apples intermingled with minerals, chalk, sea salt, and racy lemons. This concentrated wine has awesome density, medium-to-full body, and layers of mouth-coating grilled almonds, citrus fruits, crisp pears, and toasted oak. Unlike most of the other 1997 Batards, it has exceptional balance, delineation, and class. It should be at its peak between 2002 and 2010.

Author: Robert Parker