1996 Meursault les Perrieres
By Domaine des Comtes Lafon
1990 Chevalier Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy, France
For those with a penchant for Burgundian excellence, the 1990 Chevalier Montrachet from Domaine Leflaive stands as a paragon of vinicultural artistry. Harnessing a season renowned for its impeccable balance, this vintage radiates the pedigree of its terroir and the deft craftsmanship at Maison Leflaive.
Epoch Defining Vintage
The 1990 vintage was one marked by both an abundance of sunshine and fortuitous climatic conditions, culminating in grapes that achieved full phenolic ripeness whilst retaining intrinsic Burgundian acidity. The adept hands at Domaine Leflaive transmuted these already exceptional grapes into a creation that unfurls layers of complexity with each sip.
A Distillation of Terroir and Time
The gravity of the 1990 Chevalier Montrachet beckons with an olfactory tapestry interwoven with hints of ripe orchard fruits, toasted almond, and a subtle suggestion of honeycomb derived from the marriage of fruit and judicious oak ageing. On the palate, it delivers an exquisite minerality, reminiscent of the stony limestone soils that nourish the vines. This elegant backbone is framed by lush textures and a vivacious acidity, ensuring this wine's longevity and affirming its status as a venerable collectible for fine wine investors.
Now in a fully mature stage, this sublime offering from Domaine Leflaive seduces with an ethereal depth and persistence rarely encountered. Among connoisseurs who seek out gems that epitomise the zenith of their region, the 1990 Chevalier Montrachet sits comfortably within this coveted enclave.
In essence, investing in a bottle of 1990 Chevalier Montrachet means embracing a slice of viticultural history—a harmonious combination of year and provenance that only underscores its investment worthiness. Even as trends fluctuate and markets evolve, it steadfastly remains an icon; as any discerning investor knows, icons maintain their allure through thick and thin.
Current market price
£7,500.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
500
Scores and tasting notes
The breath-taking Meursault Perrieres has an extraordinarily defined and elegant nose of stones, earth and minerals. As Lafon tasted it he smiled and said, "yes, it is classic, like the Charmes." Classic to me means representative of the norm, and this wine is more than that, it is an exquisite example of the heights this vineyard can attain. Harmonious, lively, gorgeously delineated, silky-textured, rich, medium-to-full-bodied, and profoundly deep, this wine's stone and mineral flavors seems to linger on the palate indefinitely. Wow! This magnificent wine should be consumed between 2004 and 2012. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Dominique Lafon performed more batonnage than usual on his 1996s, "to give them more richness," he said. However, unlike some other vignerons, Lafon abandons the practice when the malos start because he wants his wines to be protected by the carbon dioxide gas that is a by product of a wine's malo-lactic fermentation. Lafon's yields were between 35 and 45 hectoliters/hectare, demonstrating his dedication to quality in this potentially high-yielding vintage. Importer: Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA; tel (617) 731-6644.
Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 22 February 1998