Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021

The Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 is a stunning white Burgundy from one of Puligny-Montrachet’s most revered Grand Cru vineyards. Situated adjacent to Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet is celebrated for producing wines of exceptional elegance, complexity, and finesse. Domaine Leflaive, a benchmark for biodynamic winemaking, meticulously tends this iconic site, allowing the terroir’s purity and depth to shine. The 2021 vintage, shaped by cooler conditions and reduced yields, has delivered wines of remarkable precision, vibrancy, and aging potential.

On the nose, this wine reveals an enticing bouquet of citrus confit, honeysuckle, and ripe orchard fruits, accented by subtle notes of orange blossom, crushed oyster shell, and a whisper of spiced oak. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet refined, with a creamy texture balanced by vibrant acidity. A mineral-driven backbone lends precision and energy, leading to a long, elegant finish with lingering notes of lemon zest, toasted hazelnuts, and saline complexity.

98 Points - Burghound, June 2023

(95-98 points) A trace of reduction isn't sufficient to materially reduce the appeal of the honeysuckle, citrus confit and softly spiced aromas that are also trimmed in just enough wood to merit pointing out. The medium-bodied flavors aren't necessarily finer than those of the Pucelles though they do possess more power and weight while retaining a beguilingly silky texture as well as excellent complexity on the strikingly long, balanced and Zen-like finale. This is a very serious and moderately austere BBM that is very clearly built to repay long-term keeping. In a word, superb.

96 Points - Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy, April 2023

(94-96 points) Clear pale lemon yellow. The bouquet is more reserved than the Pucelles, with an easy-going white fruit across the piece. Medium depth at first then both broadens and deepens on the palate, with a wealth of fruit, and a caressing softer style on the palate yet with a good natural acidity running all the way through. Graceful long finish.

96 Points - Vinous, January 2024

The 2021 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a focused, uncompromising bouquet with a strong marine influence: touches of oyster shell and a hint of orange blossom. The palate is very well-balanced with a twist of sour lemon. There’s very good depth – it’s sapid and quite bold towards the finish. This is a Bienvenue with driving ambition. -- Neal Martin

95 Points - Wine Spectator, January 2023

The creaminess in this white is offset by lively acidity, framing flavors of peach, citronella, vanilla, butter, lemon and oyster juice. This is all about finesse, showing superb balance and harmony, with a long, mouthwatering finish that concludes with toasty oak spices. Best from 2025 through 2035. 490 cases made, 98 cases imported.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, January 2024

The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is attractive, unwinding in the glass to reveal aromas of honeyed pears, white flowers, toasted hazelnuts and drawn butter, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered palate with good depth at the core and the same impression of chalky structuring extract that characterizes the domaine's Pucelles this year. - William Kelley