Wine Advisor
Etienne Sauzet, Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from bought-in grapes sourced from the upper sector. It has a fragrant, floral bouquet with dandelion scents filtering through the citrus fruit, although I actually prefer the gung-ho aromatics of the Bâtard by comparison. The palate is very well balanced with a slightly honeyed texture on the entry. There is a lovely spicy undertow here, and an intense lemongrass-infused finish that lingers 45-plus seconds in the mouth. Very fine. Four barrels produced.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
A cuvée produced from purchased must, Sauzet's 2018 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru delivers a pretty bouquet of citrus oil, white flowers, fresh peach and clear honey. Full-bodied, ample and incisive, it's beautifully defined, even if it can't match the depth and concentration of the Bâtard and Bienvenues.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from bought-in grapes sourced from the upper sector. It has a fragrant, floral bouquet with dandelion scents filtering through the citrus fruit, although I actually prefer the gung-ho aromatics of the Bâtard by comparison. The palate is very well balanced with a slightly honeyed texture on the entry. There is a lovely spicy undertow here, and an intense lemongrass-infused finish that lingers 45-plus seconds in the mouth. Very fine. Four barrels produced.
About the Producer
Etienne Sauzet is an estate based in Puligny-Montrachet, making some of the most sought-after Chardonnay wines in Burgundy. Sauzet's wines are prized for their elegance at village level and for their extra weight and concentration at Premier and Grand Cru level. The portfolio includes leading examples of Chevalier-Montrachet, Le Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Champs Gain. The domaine is made up of 15 hectares (37 ac) of estate vineyards split between the communes of Puligny-Montrachet, Cormot-le-Grand and Chassagne-Montrachet with small amounts of fruit externally sourced. The grapes are fermented in oak and aged in barrel for around a year – premier crus see up to 33-percent new oak, while grand crus get 40-percent. After barrel aging, the wines are racked into tanks for another six months on lees. Etienne Sauzet was established at the forefront of Puligny-Montrachet production by Etienne Sauzet himself (1903-1975). His 12 hectare (30 ac) estate was taken over by his son-in-law Gérard Boudot, although in 1991 Boudot's cousin Jean-Marc Boillot took out his share of vineyards, requiring Boudot and his family to make additional acquisitions to bring the property back to its current size.
