1988 Olivier Leflaive Clos de Vougeot

Olivier Leflaive was established in 1984 when Olivier Leflaive, a negociant, decided to make his own wine with help from his brother Patrick and his famous uncle Vincent, of Domaine Leflaive. Today the Puligny-Montrachet Olivier Leflaive domaine owns 30 acres of vineyards. There are Premier Cru parcels in Meursault and Chassange-Montrachet, as well as red and white village wines. Burgundy wine writer Clive Coates calls the domaine “recommended.”

Clos de Vougeot is a walled vineyard that dominates the tiny commune of Vougeot in Burgundy’s Nuits-St.-Georges. The 124-acre Grand Cru vineyard includes a historic chateau that in 1945 was purchased by the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, an organization devoted to promoting the traditions of Burgundy and its wines. The impressive chateau is the organization’s headquarters. Clos de Vougeot was established as a vineyard by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, then sold off to private owners after the French Revolution. The vineyard is unusual for a Grand Cru in that it includes land that runs down to the main road. The soil is light limestone with sand. Principal landowners are Chateau de la Tour, with 13 acres; Meo-Camuzet, 7.5 acres; Rebourseau, 5.5 acres; Louis Jadot, 5.3 acres; and Leroy, 5 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.