2018 Chevalier-Montrachet, Grand Cru, Etienne Sauzet, Burgundy
Critics reviews
Four barrels made. Luminous pale yellow. This starts quietly but develops really well in the mouth, the fruit freshening up steadily the further back one goes, with a fine chiselled finish alongside some quite ripe fruit.
Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (November 2019)
From 25+-year-old vines that are situated on the very highest of the four terraces, aged in 50% new oak, 3 to 4 barrels are produced each year.
A background whiff of exotic fruit can be found on the spicy and complex nose of essence of white peach, passion fruit, baked apple and acacia blossom aromas. There is good power and punch to the overtly mineral-driven broad-shouldered yet refined flavours that possess a borderline creamy mid-palate that contrasts somewhat with the driving and tightly wound finish that delivers excellent depth and length. In a word, terrific.
Drink from 2030 onward
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (June 2020)
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.
Drink 2023 - 2045
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (January 2020)
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.
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (February 2020)
It's usually the other way round, but this Chevalier-Montrachet has more power and concentration than the Etienne Sauzet Bâtard-Montrachet in 2018. Exhibiting appealing struck-match aromas, this segues into a palate with notes of dried coconut and vanilla, leesy, creamy flavours and underlying zip and chalky minerality—a classy négociant white.
Drink 2022 - 2030
Tim Atkin MW, Decanter.com (October 2018)
About this WINE
Etienne Sauzet
The original Etienne Sauzet (1903-75) put together a wine domaine of around 12 hectares and established the Sauzet name as one of the top two or three addresses in the village. Initially the domaine was taken over by his son-in-law Gérard Boudot, who arrived in 1974, but in 1991 the inheritance was split up between the three grandchildren, one of whom (Jean-Marc Boillot) chose to take out his share of the vineyards.
Since that time Gérard Boudot, now joined by daughter Emilie, and son-in-law Benoît Riffault, has augmented his holdings by purchasing grapes, some from the same appellations as his own holdings below, others to complement the range, such as Champs Gains, Chevalier-Montrachet and Le Montrachet itself.
SARL Sauzet buys the grapes from three family property-owning companies (the original Sauzet vineyards, those purchased since by Gérard Boudot, and those recently purchased by Emilie and Benoît) and also grapes from two other producers with whom they have close contact.
The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2006 and after two years of experimentation all switched to biodynamic cultivation from 2010. The grapes are sorted to remove grey rot where necessary, then pressed without crushing and fermented in oak until racking into tank before the next harvest, for a further six months élévage on the fine lees. The premiers crus receive between 20 per cent (La Garenne) and 33 per cent (Combettes) new oak with 40 per cent for the grands crus.
The generic and village wines are elegant and stylish, while the 1er and Grands Crus are splendidly concentrated and opulent, yet beautifully proportioned and never overbearing.They are some of the most sought-after wines from Puligny and are models of intensity and balance.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.
Chevalier-Montrachet
Chevalier-Montrachet is one of the most renowned Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy. Located in the Côte de Beaune subregion, specifically in the villages of Puligny Montrachet and Chassagne Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet is famous for producing exceptional white wines. The terroir is characterized by its limestone-rich soils, which contribute to the minerality and complexity of the wines. The vineyard's exposure to the sun, slope, and altitude also play crucial roles in shaping the unique characteristics of the wines.
Only white wines are produced in Chevalier-Montrachet and are exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes. The wines are known for their richness, elegance, and complexity, often displaying a combination of citrus, orchard fruit, floral, and mineral notes.
Chevalier-Montrachet wines are known for their ability to age gracefully. The best vintages can evolve and improve in the bottle for several decades, developing additional complexity and nuance over time. Production is limited, however, due to the small size of the vineyards.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
From 25+-year-old vines that are situated on the very highest of the four terraces, aged in 50% new oak, 3 to 4 barrels are produced each year.
A background whiff of exotic fruit can be found on the spicy and complex nose of essence of white peach, passion fruit, baked apple and acacia blossom aromas. There is good power and punch to the overtly mineral-driven broad-shouldered yet refined flavours that possess a borderline creamy mid-palate that contrasts somewhat with the driving and tightly wound finish that delivers excellent depth and length. In a word, terrific.
Drink from 2030 onward
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (June 2020)
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