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ProducerEtienne Sauzet
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Vintage2017
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Grape VarietyChardonnay
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RegionBurgundy
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Sub RegionPuligny-Montrachet
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SizeBottle
Domaine Etienne Sauzet, established in the 1920s and today one of the most important producers of white wine in all Burgundy
The history of this domaine dates to the beginning of the 20th century, when Etienne Sauzet inherited and bought several plots of vines in the village of Puligny-Montrachet. The vines passed through the family to Jeanine Boillot, Sauzet’s granddaughter. Jeanine and her husband, Gérard Boudot, managed the domaine, making many modernizations including improved vinification techniques and biodynamic farming.
Today the domaine has been passed to their daughter Emilie and her husband, Benoît Riffault, who continue to produce white wines that are among the most sought-after in all of Burgundy. Although the winemaking techniques have been modernized, M. Sauzet’s traditions of estate-bottling and of aging the wines on their lees for 10-12 months to “nourish them” are still respected and result in superbly finished, fruity, and full-bodied wines. After four generations, Sauzet is still synonymous with high-quality, elegant, Burgundian Chardonnay.
Some 9.24 hectares are currently owned, including tiny plots of Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, along with an impressive array of six premiers crus in Puligny-Montrachet. A tiny (half hectare) plot is also owned in Chassagne-Montrachet, Les Encegnieres, directly underneath vines Sauzet utilises in Batard-Montrachet.
90 Points Allen Meadows
A more restrained and more floral nose reflects notes of white peach, pear and acacia blossom. There is better detail and excellent punch to the attractively delineated medium-bodied flavors that possess better mid-palate density, all wrapped in an agreeably dry, focused and well-balanced finish. Lovely.
91 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Benoît Riffault’s 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Village is already open and expressive on the nose, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe lemons, Anjou pear, nutmeg, dried white flowers and warm bread. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a satiny attack, excellent amplitude and concentration at the core, ripe acids and a long, expansive finish. This is quite a powerful example of the vintage, but don’t let its youthful precocity deceive, as it has the structure and substance to evolve gracefully in the cellar.