Ripe and fully mature aromas include those of white peach, apricot, dried flowers and crushed fennel. There is excellent size, weight and richness to the delicious and caressing medium-bodied flavors that possess ample amounts of sappy dry extract that impart a seductive texture to the complex, balanced and lingering finish. This is lovely and while the 2005 version doesn't have the energy of say the very finest vintages, it is drinking beautifully now. Note that I have had several examples where premox was an issue though happily, none from my cellar (fingers crossed!).

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While 2005 marks the vintage when premature oxidation began to make extensive depredations in the Leflaive cellars, this bottle of the 2005 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles was actually quite reductive on opening, unfurling in the glass with notes of mandarin oil, wheat toast, pear and pastry cream as its gentle leesiness dissipated. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and quite textural, with chewy, almost phenolic extract and good length, nicely balanced in this sometimes-blowsy vintage. My only criticism would be that in personality this bottle seemed to nod more to Meursault than Puligny.

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