Critic ratings
vinous
2017
Rating:
91
–93
(there are just two-and-a-half barrels of this juice, none of them new): Bright pale yellow. Rich, ripe peach aroma with a buttery nuance. Then dry and laid-back on the palate; in a rather powerful style but youthfully tight, showing no easy oaky sweetness. More minerally than the Combettes but displaying less stuffing and creaminess than that wine (I might have identified this wine blind as a Pucelles). This fairly large-scaled wine finishes with a peach pit cyanic dryness and very good length.
vinous
2020
Rating:
90
–92
The 2020 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a very chiselled bouquet, focused and precise with crushed stone and touches of dried honey, a little jasmine with time in the glass. The palate is well balanced with fine definition, tensile and spicy, fine depth although it just misses a little precision on the finish, like a runner who flags on the final lap. Let’s see how this will show in bottle.
vinous
2018
Rating:
90
–92
The 2018 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from a small parcel abutting Les Pucelles, planted in 1936. It has a pleasant floral bouquet, although to be honest it is a bit overwhelmed by some of Sauzet’s high-performing Premier Crus. The palate is strict and focused with a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and malic in style, yet not quite flowering or kicking on toward the conservative finish.
vinous
2019
Rating:
95
–97
The 2019 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from a single parcel towards the Pucelles side, just 8 rows of vines to be exact, equivalent to two and a half barrels. The vines were planted in 1936, the oldest of the domaine and matured in no new oak. The bouquet is slightly reduced but that works in its favour as the terroir still comes through: crushed rock, fleeting glimpses of yellow plum and orange rind. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, quite vibrant towards the finish that shows possibly more concentration than the Chevalier-Montrachet. I can understand why this is Riffaut’s pick of his 2019s.
robert_parker
2019
Rating:
93
–95
The 2019 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru opens in the glass with scents of pear, honeycomb, toasted nuts, orange oil and white flowers, framed by a light touch of reduction. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's rich and muscular, with a broad-shouldered, powerful profile, lively acids and a bright, mineral finish. This is a dramatic Bienvenues in the making from Sauzet.
robert_parker
2021
Rating:
91
–93
The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with notes of confit citrus, nutmeg and light reduction. Medium to full-bodied, ample and satiny, with racy acids and a saline finish, this is another old-vine cuvée that's a stalwart chez Sauzet, no matter the vintage.
robert_parker
2020
Rating:
95
–95
Unwinding in the glass with aromas of pear, orange oil, freshly baked bread, peach, smoke and spices, the 2020 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny and layered, with terrific old-vine concentration, racy acids and chalky dry extract. Deep, multidimensional and structured, it will reward a bit of patience.
robert_parker
2022
Rating:
94
–96
The 2022 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is my favorite of Sauzet's grands crus, opening in the glass with aromas of waxy citrus, Anjou pear, freshly baked bread, white flowers and hazelnuts, followed by a full-bodied, satiny and seamless palate that's pure, racy and refined, with excellent concentration and a penetrating finish. It's derived from a parcel planted in 1938.
robert_parker
2015
Rating:
91
–93
The 2015 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montachet Grand Cru has quite an intense bouquet with wet limestone and light fumé scents, candied orange peel emerging after several swirls of the glass. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, nectarine and yellow plum, hints of hazelnut and grilled pine nuts infusing the citrus fruit that dovetails into an edgy, stem ginger tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. This should develop into an accomplished Bienvenue, even if it will not rank amongst the very finest from the estate.
robert_parker
2009
Rating:
94
–94
The 2009 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet flows from the glass with effortless grace. It is a gorgeous, striking wine from start to finish. Sweet floral notes meld seamlessly into highly expressive fruit as this supple, pliant Burgundy shows off its pure breed. This is all class and elegance. The Bienvenues was aged in 1 year-old oak. It is exceptional. Anticipated maturity: 2014+.
This is a beautiful set of wines from Etienne Sauzet. Proprietor Gerard Boudot emphasized the importance of keeping yields low and picking early. The harvest began on September 7. Boudot did a very light batonnage, and the wines saw approximately 20% new oak. The 2009s were bottled beginning in August 2010, but the premier and grand crus weren’t bottled until March 2011.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
2012
Rating:
92
–94
The 2012 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru is located on the Pucelles side of the vineyard and comes from 70-year-old vines, the oldest in Sauzet’s possession. The nose is very fragrant with scents of granite and dandelion emerging with aeration, all with very fine delineation. The palate is well-balanced with suggestions of white peach and dried apricot on the entry. It remains taut and linear. No flourish on the finish here – just direct mineral notes that leave you wanting another sip. This is infused with great tension and it should age well.
Etienne Sauzet has been a source of fine Puligny wines since I first dipped my toe into Burgundy. I visited their winery located on the fringe of Puligny that was constructed just over ten years ago: a tastefully furnished facility equipped with a comfortable tasting room, ideal for laptops tired of being precariously balanced between barrels. Sauzet’s policy has been to buy in fruit to augment their own 9.5-hectare of holdings, almost exclusively from within Puligny-Montrachet. The original parcels had been accumulated by Etienne Sauzet in the 1920s and expanded in piecemeal fashion until 1989, whereupon his daughter divided their vineyards for tax purposes. After almost inevitable familial dissention the holdings were splintered to form domains Jean-Marc Boillot (based in Pommard and taking a significant proportion of the vines) and Henri Boillot (Volnay). Together they essentially deprived daughter Jeanine and her husband Gerard Boudot of the lion’s share of their premier crus. Ergo from 1991 Gerard and Jeanine supplemented the family’s remaining vines with out-sourced fruit and set about rebuilding their own portfolio in Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet. Jeanine’s son-in-law Benoit Riffault, who escorted me through their 2012s, commented that these days the domaine is out-sourcing less than previously. Now approximately 15% of fruit is bought in through contracts and I can imagine that figure might ultimately be zero. Their portfolio did not go unscathed by the difficult growing season. There were one or two esteemed premier crus such as Les Folatieres and Les Champs Canet whereby the triple whammy of hail damage confiscated the wines of their usual breeding. Some of these parcels were up to 80% down and the total crop was depleted by half. Fortunately, they are in the minority. Otherwise, I found that their best wines were brimming over with vigor and tension, encapsulating the mineralite of their terroirs. Sauzet’s wines can sometimes be obscured by sulfur in their youth. However, I did not find such problems here. And I feel that as the domaine as relied less and less on out-sourced fruit, so their wines have become more and more consistent. In 2012 they are crowned by a scintillating Chevalier-Montrachet that ranks as one of the finest that I tasted. If that is beyond your means, then apart from some outstanding premier crus, their Puligny village cru is as dependable as ever. Spotting a couple of palates of village cru destined for “The Wine Society” in the UK, I imagined a lot of satisfied members savoring this superb wine over the next three or four years. N.B. Readers can view Benoit expressing his opinions of the 2012 vintage on www.erobertparker.com.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
2013
Rating:
90
–92
The 2013 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is very reserved, you could almost say “timid” on the nose at the moment, reticent to say the least. The palate is taut and crisp with notes of Granny Smith apple, citrus lemon and a touch of spice. It begins to lose its inhibitions toward the saline, sour lemon-tinged finish. Certainly this will deserve four or five years in bottle, but I wonder whether it will surpass Benoît's best premier crus in 2013?
robert_parker
2003
Rating:
90
–91
The toasted mineral-scented 2003 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet (white) (total production: 80 cases) is medium-bodied, sappy, and suave. Resin-laced minerals are intermingled with toast in this glycerin-imbued effort. In addition, its long, supple finish reveals notes of creamed almonds. Anticipated maturity: now-2013.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
1998
Rating:
92
–92
Produced from 64-year-old vines, Sauzet's 1998 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet yielded 30 hectoliters per hectare (three barrels, or 75 cases). French toast, apricots, and spices can be discerned in its mouth-watering aromatics. This medium to full-bodied, thick, rich, powerful, and focused wine is crammed with expressive toasted mineral flavors. It is superb to drink today, and should easily hold for 6-7 years.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.
robert_parker
1999
Rating:
92
–92
There are only 750 bottles of the 1999 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet (64 year-old vines). It has an aromatically rich nose that is filled with spices and poached pears. On the palate, this medium-to-full-bodied wine displays stones, minerals, and candied apples in its pure, focused, and balanced personality. Projected maturity: 2002-2012.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel (802) 875-2139.
robert_parker
2000
Rating:
91
–92
Year in and year out, Etienne Sauzet produces two and a half barrels of Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet and 2000 is no different. It sports fresh mineral and floral aromas, a medium body, and a concentrated, profound character. It is intense, coating the palate with minerals, and displays loads of delineation and purity. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
2001
Rating:
92
–92
Produced from 64-year old vines, the 2001 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet bursts forth with a beguilingly spicy nose. Expansive, broad, and revealing outstanding amplitude, it is a powerfully flavored, medium-bodied offering. Loads of pears, minerals, and spices are found in its lengthy character. Projected maturity: 2004-2012.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
2002
Rating:
92
–94
Aromatically, the 2002 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet offers spiced minerals and anise. Gorgeously well-balanced, this is a big, plush, expansive wine with loads of sappy mineral flavors. Light to medium-bodied and possessing an impressively long, flavorful finish, it is concentrated and harmonious. Projected maturity: 2006-2014.
“I have only good things to say about 2002. It is the fourth in a series of good vintages, starting with the 1999s. There was no rot, great maturity, and excellent balance to add backbone,” said Gerard Boudot, Sauzet’s winemaker. He went on to add, “2002 is a very good vintage. Some people compare it to 1996, but those were much more austere wines. Some people speak of 1992, but it is livelier. Maybe it reminds me of 1985.”
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
robert_parker
1994
Rating:
91
–91
This 20-acre estate, run with considerable precision by Gerard Boudot, is among the top dozen or so producers of white Burgundy. 1994 is a very good vintage for white Burgundy, as evidenced by the following wines. No tasting notes were given.
Vineyard Brands, Inc., Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139; fax (802) 875-3566
robert_parker
1995
Rating:
93
–93
The Bienvenue Batard Montrachet, made from 60 year old vines, offers an elegant floral and buttery nose. This fat, viscous, oily-textured wine is packed with dense, candied and spicy fruit, and exhibits the necessary structure to age well. Drink it between 1999-2010. The wine was bottled three days prior to my visit.
This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29.
An asterisk indicates that the wine was produced from vineyards owned by this domaine. No asterisk indicates that the wine was produced from purchased fruit, must, or wine.
Boudot believes that what characterizes his lower and medium level wines in the 1995 vintage is abundant concentrated, dry extract fruit - without great balancing acid...I agree. He is extremely excited about the '96s, saying they "exhibit phenomenally concentrated fruit and great balancing acid. "
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel (802) 875-2139.
robert_parker
1996
Rating:
93
–93
Gerard Boudot informed me that his 62 year old parcel of Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet has consistently produced 30 hectoliters/hectare since 1990 (63 cases), regardless of the vagaries of weather. It offers a precise, mineral and earth-infused nose as well as a highly concentrated, extracted, powerful, full-bodied, superbly-balanced, and focused character. Its flavor profile is jam-packed with crisp red berries, pears, minerals, and stones. It should be at its peak from 2003 to 2010. This wine had been bottled one week prior to my visit, having spent 14 months on its lees.
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.
