The Style of the 2022 Wines

Whites

We anticipated something exciting from the 2022 vintage, but the range of whites we tasted at Olivier Leflaive exceeded expectations. Clearly, from a warm and sunny vintage the wines benefit from ripe, concentrated flavours and super depth, but they are also fresh and vibrant. Acidity levels are in perfect balance, alcohol levels are relatively low and there is lovely purity (the grapes were extremely healthy at harvest). The wines are bone-dry too, with levels of the residual, natural sugars often being below a single gram per litre. Yields for Chardonnay are lower than expected, which is a shame, because these are stunning white burgundies from a very special vintage.

Reds

As with the whites, there is more freshness in the reds than you might expect and alcohol levels are similarly on the low side (12.5% – 13%). Colours are good and the grapes achieved good maturity, giving ripe, attractive, well structured wines. There was more juice in the Pinot Noir grapes compared with the Chardonnays, so yields are a little better too. We offer just one red below and it comes highly recommended.

The 2022 Growing Season

Following a dry, but not particularly cold winter, there was a very cold period in early April which brought worrying memories of 2021. Fortunately, the buds had been slower to burst and there was very little frost damage. Spring set in well, from mid-April, with the flowers opening mid-May, two weeks earlier than usual. Summer was warm and dry, July recording record sunshine hours. Thanks to earlier rain showers at the end of June however, the vines did not suffer from drought stress. Shading of the grapes by the leaf canopy was crucial, allowing the grapes to ripen, while retaining correct acidity levels. Harvest at Olivier Lelfaive started on 24th August, lasting for 13 days under sunny skies.

Wine-Making at Olivier Leflaive

There is a new face in the Olivier Leflaive wine-making team. Solène Panigai joined in July 2022 with the aim for her to take over from Franck Grux on his eventual retirement. For now, they work together, continuing to focus tightly on the identities of each village, each plot. They are severe in side-lining not only less-than-perfect grapes on the sorting tables, but also any barrels which do not merit inclusion in their finest selections. 2022 is Franck’s 23rd vintage at Olivier Leflaive and Solène’s bright mind is soaking up all his expertise and experience.

Buying 2022 Olivier Leflaive En Primeur

This is an early opportunity to buy wines lying in barrel and we are rewarded by being able to select our favourite cuvées at pre-release prices. In turn, we offer you the chance to reap these same benefits. The wines are offered in bond, excluding duty and VAT, these last being payable on shipment in spring 2024.