Based in the Côte de Beaune, Domaine Leflaive is arguably the most important wine producer in Puligny-Montrachet. It has dedicated itself to the production of many of the most esteemed and revered Chardonnay-driven white wines. It currently produces four grandcrus and four premier crus under the Puligny-Montrachet appellation. The domaine’s founder, Joseph Leflaive, left his career as an engineer to pursue his love for the vine. Perhaps it was the influence of his former profession – his desire to learn the hows and whys of operating parts - but he surprisingly purchased Puligny-Montrachet vineyards in 1905 which had been nearly destroyed by the last outbreak of phylloxera. He embraced the challenge of restoring the property; not only did he replant the vines, but he also expanded them. Upon Joseph’s death in 1953, his two sons, Vincent and Jo, assumed leadership of the domaine. It was under their guidancethat the estate rose to the stature it enjoys today. After their tenure came to an end in 1990, leadership fell to family cousins Anne-Claude and Olivier Lefaivre. Four years later, Olivier left to start his own négociant business, leaving Anne-Claude at the helm. It is hard to convey the impact and influence Anne-Claude had on the domaine as well as the wine industry in general. She was a force, aleader and an inspiration: passionate and devoted, she championed the concept of biodynamic farming perhaps more than anyone had before, and converted many a winemaker to the tenets of the movement. Her early death in 2015 was a blow to the entire global wine community. Brice de la Morandiere, Anne-Claude’s nephew, now runs Domaine Leflaive. The domaine’s most respected wine continues to be its Montrachet Grand Cru, but the domaine retains land in equally respected Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. Grand Cru wines are produced from each. The domaine holds several premier cru sites such as Les Clavoillon, and it makes one Pinot Noir under Blagny Sous le Dos D’Ane.