Etienne Sauzet
The historic heart of this domaine comprises premier cru vineyards on Puligny’s northern border (Champ Canet, Combettes, Referts, Perrières) whose richly-textured wines already hint at the opulent style of contiguous Meursault. Since 1991, when one third of the vineyard land was lost through inheritance, it has been winery policy to buy in additional grapes to cover appellation shortfalls, add these purchases to the estate’s own harvest, and vinify both origins jointly. This somewhat complicated process has allowed winemaker Gérard Boudot together with his son-in-law Benoît to retain full technical control (including overseeing the farming and harvesting arrangements to do with the purchased grapes). The upside is that Boudot has been able to extend his wine-making expertise to new appellations, adding a brightly mineral La Garenne as well as boosting the grand cru count from the original two (Bâtard and Bienvenue-Bâtard) to four (purchases of Chevalier and Montrachet).
A high-class range of wines from one of the masters of Puligny, combining delicacy, vivid aromas and voluptuous textures. Sauzet wines can often take a while to come round but when they do they are some of the most exciting, complete examples of Puligny. Generosity of fruit is expertly tempered by judicious use of oak and bright, striking acidity.
General information
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Country
France
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Region
Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
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Total holdings
10ha
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Winemaker
Gérard Boudot & Benoit Riffault
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Established
1920s
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Cultivation
Biodynamic (uncertified)
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Website
Wines produced
Wine | Grapetype(s) | Vine age | Soil type | Vineyard area |
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Bourgogne blanc | Chardonnay | - | Clay & limestone | - |
Chassagne-Montrachet Encegnières | Chardonnay | - | Clay & limestone | - |
Puligny-Montrachet | Chardonnay | - | Clay & limestone | - |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Garenne | Chardonnay | - | Top of the slope, lots of limestone | 0.99ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Hameau de Blagny | Chardonnay | Planted in 1947 & 1948 | - | 0.24ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Champ-Canet | Chardonnay | - | - | 1ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Les Referts | Chardonnay | Planted in 1940s- | Rich in clay | 0.70ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Champs Gains | Chardonnay | - | - | n/a |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Les Perrières | Chardonnay | 30 year old vines | Deep soil, lots of small stones | 0.48ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Folatières | Chardonnay | - | Very white soil | 0.27ha |
Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru Les Combettes | Chardonnay | Mostly old vines - planted in 1963 | - | 0.96ha |
Bâtard-Montrachet grand cru | Chardonnay | Planted in 1942 | - | 0.14ha |
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet grand cru | Chardonnay | - | - | 0.17ha |
Chevalier-Montrachet grand cru | Chardonnay | - | Very white soil | n/a |
Montrachet grand cru | Chardonnay | - | - | n/a |
Viticulture / Vinification
White wines
- Indigenous yeasts used for fermentations
- Bourgogne blanc is sourced from 3 parcels located at the bottom of Puligny
- Puligny-Montrachet villages sourced from 7 parcels, blended after 11 months in barrique, 1 racking
- Folatieres parcel is from En la Richarde
- Bâtard parcel located on the Puligny side
- Normally bottle just before the next harvest
- Villages wines - 15-20% new oak
- 1ers crus - 20-25% new oak
- Keep barrels for 5 years then sell on (to Champagne or Jura)
- Pneumatic pressing