Leflaive’s fabulous 1997 Batard-Montrachet offers super-ripe aromas of candied apples intermingled with minerals, chalk, sea salt, and racy lemons. This concentrated wine has awesome density, medium-to-full body, and layers of mouth-coating grilled almonds, citrus fruits, crisp pears, and toasted oak. Unlike most of the other 1997 Batards, it has exceptional balance, delineation, and class. It should be at its peak between 2002 and 2010. Importer: Wilson Daniels, St. Helena, CA; (707) 963-9661.

Beautiful harmony from start to finish. Layers of attractive smoke, honey and ripe fruit are kept in focus as the seduction wraps around the palate. Not a big wine, but subtle. Drink now through 2007.??–PM??Region: France / Burgundy / Batard-Montrachet Select to Add

An extremely complex wine. At five-plus years, the peach, lime and tart apple flavors are picking up mineral, mushroom, earth and medicinal overtones. Drinks soft, lush and creamy, yet with crisp acidity. This multi-layered wine changes with each sniff and swirl, and finishes with astonishing length.——S.H.(1/1/2002)—— 93