Olivier Leflaive Frères
Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Les Sétilles
2015
Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Les Sétilles represents accessible white Burgundy craftsmanship from Olivier Leflaive Frères, delivering regional Chardonnay character with the finesse expected from this respected Burgundian producer.
Country
France
Region
Bourgogne
More information
Producer
Olivier Leflaive Frères is a leading négociant-éleveur specialising in white Burgundy, based in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet. Founded in 1984 by Olivier Leflaive, the House sources Chardonnay from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards across the Côte de Beaune, working closely with select growers to craft wines that combine traditional Burgundian winemaking with precision and consistency. The resulting portfolio is recognised for its clarity, balance and faithful expression of terroir.
Quick Facts
- Location: Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
- Founded: 1984
- Founder: Olivier Leflaive
- Producer model: Négociant-éleveur
- Ownership: Family-owned
- Primary grape: Chardonnay
- Key appellations: Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne, Bâtard-Montrachet
- Focus: Premier Cru and Grand Cru white Burgundy
- Winemaking: Traditional Burgundian techniques with controlled fermentation and extended lees ageing
- Signature wine: Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
- Style: Fresh, mineral, aromatic complexity with oak integration
- Ageing potential: 10-20 years for Premier Cru and Grand Cru bottlings
A Négociant-Éleveur Rooted in Puligny-Montrachet
Olivier Leflaive established his House in 1984 with a focused vision: to craft exceptional white Burgundy through careful sourcing, meticulous vinification and patient élevage. Operating from Puligny-Montrachet, one of Burgundy's most prestigious white wine villages, the House built relationships with growers across the Côte de Beaune whose vineyards matched its exacting quality standards.
Rather than simply purchasing finished wines, Olivier Leflaive Frères functions as a négociant-éleveur, taking control of fruit selection, vinification and barrel maturation. This approach allows the House to shape each wine's development from harvest through bottling, ensuring consistency and terroir transparency across the portfolio.
The White Burgundy Portfolio
The House's range extends across the Côte de Beaune's most distinguished Chardonnay appellations. Village-level wines from Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet provide accessible introductions to each commune's character, while Premier Cru bottlings from sites such as Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles and Meursault Charmes deliver greater depth, precision and structure.
At the summit of the collection stand Grand Cru wines from Corton-Charlemagne, Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. These bottlings represent Burgundy's most revered Chardonnay terroirs, combining power with elegance and offering exceptional complexity when given time to develop in bottle. Each wine reflects the limestone-rich soils, precise exposures and microclimates that distinguish the Côte de Beaune.
Precision Through Élevage
Winemaking at Olivier Leflaive Frères emphasises controlled fermentation temperatures, careful oak selection and extended lees contact. Barrels are chosen to complement rather than dominate the fruit, with Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines typically receiving higher percentages of new French oak than village-level bottlings.
The House maintains extended élevage periods to allow gradual integration of oak, development of texture and expression of each wine's underlying minerality. The result is a signature style that balances freshness and aromatic purity with weight, structure and the capacity to age gracefully. These are white Burgundies built for both near-term enjoyment and long-term cellaring, appealing to collectors seeking authentic expressions of Chardonnay from Burgundy's historic slopes.
Country
Region
Bourgogne
Bourgogne is widely regarded as the world's most prestigious wine region and has defined the concept of terroir for generations of winemakers and collectors. Located in eastern France, the region combines centuries of monastic tradition with exceptional vineyard sites, producing some of the most sought-after and age-worthy wines ever made. From legendary Grand Cru climats in Vosne-Romanée and Puligny-Montrachet to historic domaines passed down through generations, Bourgogne represents the benchmark against which the world's finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are measured.
The region extends from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south, with the heartland centred on the Côte d'Or—comprising the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. Here, limestone and marl soils combined with precise eastern and southeastern exposures create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Grand Cru vineyards of Chambertin, Romanée-Conti, Musigny, Corton-Charlemagne and Montrachet represent the pinnacle of Burgundian terroir, each climat expressing distinct soil composition, elevation and microclimate. The Côte de Nuits is renowned for structured, long-lived Pinot Noir, while the Côte de Beaune produces both refined reds and exceptional white Burgundy. Chablis to the north offers precise, mineral-driven Chardonnay from Kimmeridgian limestone, while Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais provide distinguished expressions at more accessible levels.
Bourgogne is home to the historic Grand Cru and Premier Cru classification system, which recognises the finest climats based on centuries of observation and viticultural knowledge. Legendary producers including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Armand Rousseau, Domaine Leflaive, Domaine Ramonet and Domaine Coche-Dury continue to set the standard for fine wine, crafting wines of remarkable precision, complexity and longevity. Unlike Bordeaux's estate-based system, Burgundy's fragmented ownership means individual climats may be divided among multiple growers, making vineyard site and producer equally essential to understanding quality and collectability.
Whether exploring iconic Grand Cru bottlings, historic Premier Cru vineyards or distinguished village appellations, Bourgogne offers an unrivalled journey through the world's most terroir-focused wine region. Discover Bourgogne wines, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most important and prestigious white wine grapes, renowned for its remarkable versatility and ability to reflect both terroir and winemaking style. Most famously associated with Burgundy and Champagne in France, Chardonnay is cultivated across virtually every major wine-producing country and can produce everything from precise, mineral-driven whites to rich, complex wines with exceptional ageing potential.
In Burgundy, Chardonnay reaches some of its most celebrated expressions. The limestone-rich vineyards of Chablis are known for wines combining vibrant acidity, citrus character and mineral precision, while the Côte de Beaune, particularly appellations such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, produces some of the world’s most sought-after and age-worthy white wines.
Chardonnay also plays a fundamental role in Champagne, where it contributes freshness, finesse and acidity to blends alongside Pinot Noir and Meunier. When produced exclusively from Chardonnay, the resulting Champagne is known as Blanc de Blancs, a style prized for its elegance, precision and capacity to develop considerable complexity with extended ageing.
The grape’s character varies significantly according to climate, terroir and winemaking. Cooler regions can produce wines showing citrus, green apple, white flowers and mineral notes, while warmer conditions can bring peach, melon and tropical-fruit character. Oak fermentation, barrel ageing and malolactic fermentation can introduce additional layers of toast, vanilla, butter and hazelnut, demonstrating Chardonnay’s exceptional stylistic range.
Beyond France, Chardonnay has established important expressions in California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and numerous other wine regions. From the mineral whites of Chablis and the great vineyards of Burgundy to Blanc de Blancs Champagne and modern New World interpretations, Chardonnay’s combination of versatility, complexity and terroir expression has established it as one of the defining grape varieties of fine wine.
History and Style
Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Les Sétilles is an estate wine from Olivier Leflaive Frères, one of Burgundy's most respected négociant-éleveur houses. Produced under the regional Bourgogne AOC, this Chardonnay-based cuvée offers an accessible expression of classic white Burgundian winemaking, balancing quality and value within the producer's range.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Olivier Leflaive Frères
- Classification: Regional appellation wine
- Region: Burgundy
- Appellation: Bourgogne AOC
- Country: France
- Style: White Burgundy, medium-bodied, fresh and elegant
- Grape Composition: Chardonnay (typically 100%)
- Ageing Potential: 3-7 years from vintage
- Alcohol (ABV): 12.5-13.5%
- Tasting Profile: Citrus, white flowers, green apple, minerality, subtle oak
- Food Pairing: Seafood, poultry, goat cheese, shellfish, light cream sauces
- Serving Temperature: 10-12°C
- Bottle Status: Estate Wine
- Vintage: Varies by release
Vineyard, Terroir and Style
Olivier Leflaive Frères, established in Puligny-Montrachet in 1984, has built a reputation for meticulous sourcing and élevage across Burgundy's appellations. Les Sétilles draws from carefully selected parcels within the Bourgogne appellation, benefiting from the producer's exacting standards in vineyard management and winemaking. The estate's approach emphasizes terroir expression even at the regional level, with attention to detail in both viticulture and cellar work that mirrors techniques applied to their premier and grand cru bottlings.
History and Reputation
The wine typically displays hallmark white Burgundy characteristics: citrus fruit, white flowers, and subtle minerality, with judicious oak influence providing structure without overwhelming the fruit. Fermentation and ageing in a combination of stainless steel and oak allows for freshness while adding complexity and texture. This approach creates a wine that is both approachable in youth and capable of developing over several years in bottle.
Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Les Sétilles serves as an excellent introduction to the producer's style and white Burgundy more broadly, offering genuine regional character at an accessible price point for both everyday enjoyment and cellar exploration.