Wine Advisor
Etienne Sauzet, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
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.
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.
