2011 Olivier Leflaive Chablis Vaudésir

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.”

Vaudesir is a 31.8-acre Grand Cru vineyard in Chablis, in northwestern Burgundy. Most of it is high on a slope and faces south. It includes the very small vineyard of La Moutonne, which is 5.8 acres. Robert M. Parker has noted that Vaudesir wines are admired for their "precision of flavors and clarity." The largest landholders are Long-Depaquit, with 6.5 acres; Besson, with 3.58 acres; and Drouhin, with 3.5 acres. Like all the Chablis vineyards, it is planted exclusively to Chardonnay.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.