91 / 100 Robert Parker The 2009 Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillons emerges from the glass with plenty of sweet, caressing fruit. I especially like the way this blossoms on the mid-palate, while remaining relatively hushed. This understated Clavoillons impresses for it balance and sheer harmony. The integration of fruit, acidity and structure is terrific.
Domaine Leflaive is one of the pioneers in biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy. The first experiments began in 1990 and by 1997 all of the vineyards had been converted to biodynamic farming. Winemaker Eric Remy describes the 2009 growing season in considerable detail. The winter was long but mild. The last frost occurred on March 23. Temperatures were normal until the last week of the month, when the weather turned warmer. Flowering began on May 22. The rest of the spring and summer were warm, while a big storm in mid-July dropped 8cm of rain. The rest of the summer was quite warm. The harvest began on September 5, about ten days earlier than normal. Average yields were around 45 hectoliters per hectare. The wines were aged for 12 months in oak followed by 6-8 months in steel. New oak ranged from 10% for the Bourgogne, 15% for the villages, 20% for the premier crus and 25% for the grand crus. The 2009s were bottled between April and June 2011. Wine Advocate #196 Sept 2011
89 / 100 Wine Spectator Rich and full of buttered pastry, yet also with appealing peach and ripe apple flavors. It turns more elegant as the subtle finish lingers. Drink now through 2018. http://www.winespectator.com/wine/detail/source/search/not..
16 / 20 Jancis Robinson Particularly inexpressive on the nose. Something lightly mineral. Very precise and sculpted. Lots of passion-fruit sort of acidity and fruit – though nothing absolutely burgundian yet. Backward. Still quite chewy. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/tastings/search?perpage=20&k..
89-91 / 100 Allen Meadow This is notably riper and the nose plays right on the edge of a certain exoticism to the mostly yellow orchard fruit aromas that precede rich, round and mouth coating flavors that exude dry extract that buffers the moderately firm acid spine on the lightly mineral-driven and acceptably complex finish.
http://www.burghound.com/tnsearch/index.php?id=101412
