Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru

When Anne-Claude Leflaive completed the domaine's full biodynamic conversion by 1997 — considered radical across the Côte d'Or at the time — her stated aim was not philosophy but precision: to make the soil speak more clearly in each individual climat. Chevalier-Montrachet is where that ambition reaches its highest register. Sitting above Montrachet itself on the upper slope of the Côte de Beaune, the Grand Cru's soils trend toward purer limestone with less clay than the plots below, producing a structural tension and chiselled mineral drive that distinguishes it from the broader, more opulent character of Bâtard. Leflaive holds parcels within the domaine's 4.8 ha Grand Cru portfolio, with vines ploughed by horse to preserve soil structure and microbial life. Vinification follows manual harvest, parcel-by-parcel sorting, long pneumatic pressing, 24-hour débourbage, and direct racking into French oak (Vosges and Allier) for fermentation with indigenous yeasts only. Élevage runs 12 months in barrel — up to ~25% new oak at Grand Cru level — followed by 6 months in stainless steel before spring bottling with minimal intervention and near-zero filtration. Light bâtonnage bridges alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, preserving texture without obscuring site. The 2020 vintage delivers a taut, tightly meshed profile with juicy texture and exceptional freshness — Falstaff projects 25+ years of aging potential for Grand Cru expressions from this harvest. Drink from 2028 through 2045+.