Lot presentation

Meursault 1er Cru Bouchères Olivier Leflaive 2011

The wine

The Bouchères area resembles a mussel bed, with little hills rolling throughout the vineyards. The Chardonnay vines are nestled at around 250 to 300 metres high and are an average of 30 years old. They are neighbours to the emblematic Goutte d’Or terroir. The easterly-facing vines are harvested right before reaching full ripeness. The marl and limestone soil offers everything these vines need. Each plot benefits from gentle and precise techniques which respect sustainable pest control practices. Once the harvest is complete, the grapes are gently pressed with a pneumatic press and are entirely destemmed. Finally, the cuvée is matured for 17 months in oak cask, 25% of which are new, and for five of those months the wine is matured as a mass blend.
The bright yellow colour has lively aromas with yellow fruits, accompanied by notes of wood. The stimulating and full-bodied mouthfeel reveals savoury hints of butter and grilled brioche, with a long and luscious finish.

About the Producer Olivier Leflaive

A figurehead for Patrimonio, and one of the most charismatic Corsican winegrowers, Antoine Arena produces wines of extraordinary precision. He has managed the property since 1980 (which originally only consisted of three hectares of vines) and was joined by his sons Jean-Baptiste and Antoine-Marie in 2004. The vineyard now covers 11 hectares, with red (Nielluccio) and white grapes (Vermentino, Bianco Gentile and Muscat à Petits Grains for the sweet wines). No chemical fertilizers or herbicides are used; and in the winery, the most natural techniques possible are employed. The Arena''s philosophy, besides the careful observation and ploughing of the soil, is to bring out the best in their terroir; to accomplish this, a plot by plot approach is taken. The vineyard is managed according to biodynamic principles and has AB organic certification.