Wine Advisor
Etienne Sauzet, Puligny Montrachet 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale, slightly green-tinged color. Moderately ripe nose suggests menthol and white pepper, plus an herbal element. Offers good texture and a touch of sweetness but not the purity of the better '16s at this address. With its juxtaposition of a marzipan hint and underlying minerality, this village wine comes across as a bit disjointed in the early going.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(assembled): Palish yellow. Apple and spices on the nose. A step up in vibrancy and intensity over the Sauzet Bourgogne Blanc but still on the lean side, with its fresh apple flavor showing a touch of salinity. Nicely balanced wine with modest nuance and decent density.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale, slightly green-tinged color. Moderately ripe nose suggests menthol and white pepper, plus an herbal element. Offers good texture and a touch of sweetness but not the purity of the better '16s at this address. With its juxtaposition of a marzipan hint and underlying minerality, this village wine comes across as a bit disjointed in the early going.
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.
