Burgundy’s 2020 vintage is renowned for its incredibly bright, concentrated wines. ‘How can a vintage so extreme produce wines that are so vibrant and fresh?’ asks William Kelley of the Wine Advocate. This is exactly what one finds with the Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2020. A blend from 25 plots, it’s lively and seductive. On the nose this Chardonnay shows jasmine, white grapefruit and apricot with a creamy and silky palate, mineral acidity and a lengthy finish.
2021 was a challenging vintage for the vignerons, with crops severely down. ‘Given everything thrown at vineyards and winemakers in 2021, how come so many of the wines are blooming deliciously?’ asks Neal Martin. Joseph Drouhin’s Puligny-Montrachet 2021 is yet another example of the understated and elegant style one can expect from this producer. Dense but finely tuned, with florals, Granny Smith apple and mineral reduction, it has ‘the Drouhin trademark of subtlety without leanness’ (Jancis Robinson).
Whilst Burgundy’s prices continue to rise, Wine Cellar is proud to offer both of these wines at R1,795 per bottle – well below the open market price.
Is Burgundy still a source of magic? ‘It is for me!’ writes Jasper Morris MW in his second edition of Inside Burgundy. ‘The anticipation is exciting in itself, the delivery a treat that we may only just deserve. Burgundy is doing this really well at the moment.’
