Etienne Sauzet

History of Domaine Etienne Sauzet

The story of Domaine Etienne Sauzet begins in the early 20th century, when its founder patiently assembled a few hectares of vines in the finest climats of Puligny-Montrachet. A hands-on man with exacting standards, Etienne Sauzet built a vineyard of around twelve hectares over a few decades, centered on the village’s most renowned parcels, and established estate bottling early on as a mark of quality.

In 1974, Gérard Boudot, husband of the founder’s granddaughter Jeanine, took the reins of the property and established the Sauzet name as a global benchmark. An inheritance division in 1991 reduced the estate to fewer than nine hectares. Gérard Boudot responded by creating a family-run négociant business, buying grapes and must from partner growers to preserve the full range. Since the 2000s, Emilie Boudot, Etienne Sauzet’s great-granddaughter, and her husband Benoît Riffault have continued this upward trajectory. Under their leadership, the estate was certified organic in 2006, began converting to biodynamics in 2010 and obtained certification in 2013.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Etienne Sauzet

The terroir of Puligny-Montrachet is the beating heart of the estate. Jurassic clay-limestone soils, rich in marl and limestone scree, alternate with stony seams that give the wines their characteristic chalky minerality. The vineyards span nearly 200 meters of elevation, from lower-slope parcels near the water table to high-altitude climats such as La Garenne and Sous le Puits, above the hamlet of Blagny, where cool nights preserve vibrant acidity.

Each parcel is tended as an entity in its own right. Plowing, controlled cover cropping, biodynamic preparations and herbal infusions form part of a viticultural approach attentive to soil life. Yields are deliberately kept low, and harvesting is done by hand and delayed as long as possible to achieve full phenolic ripeness without excess sugar. The vines’ advanced average age—with many over fifty years old in Les Combettes and Les Referts—brings density, depth and natural concentration to the estate’s cuvées.

Winemaking at Domaine Etienne Sauzet

Winemaking at Etienne Sauzet rests on a simple principle: guide rather than correct. The grapes are pressed slowly in a pneumatic press, the must settles overnight at a low temperature, then goes into barrels for alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts alone. No routine chaptalization, no harsh fining, and sulfites used only as needed: the fruit guides the entire process.

Aging is the estate’s second hallmark. The wines rest on fine lees for ten to twelve months in Burgundy barrels, with a restrained proportion of new oak—generally around 20 percent for village appellations and slightly more for the grands crus. This approach enriches the wine, lending body and texture without ever masking the terroir. A period in tank before bottling then allows the lots to harmonize and the wines to stabilize naturally, gaining energy, salinity and aromatic precision.

The Cuvées of Domaine Etienne Sauzet

Bourgogne Aligoté: a recent, appealing addition to the range, this Aligoté emphasizes liveliness and drinkability. Aromas of lemon, white flowers and flint lead to a focused, saline palate. Ideal as an aperitif or served with seafood or fried river fish.

Bourgogne Blanc: made from young vines planted within Puligny-Montrachet, this white Burgundy offers an accessible introduction to the house style. Crisp white fruit, fresh citrus and a light chalky touch make for an elegant, easy-drinking wine of remarkable pedigree for its appellation.

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc Jardin du Calvaire: this cuvée comes from the cool heights of the Hautes Côtes, on thin limestone soils. It charms with notes of stone fruit and wet stone, while bright acidity extends the finish. Excellent value for the pleasure it offers within the range.

Puligny-Montrachet Villages: a blend of the estate’s best parcels across the village (Le Trézin, Les Meix, Les Charmes, Les Corvées, Encégnières), this signature cuvée is fermented and aged in barrels with around 20 percent new oak. It combines density, floral purity and a long, mineral finish. Allow two to three years for it to reveal its full harmony.

Chassagne-Montrachet: neighboring Puligny, this appellation offers a sunnier, rounder expression. The delicate nose blends citrus, apricot, mango and white flowers, while the palate unfolds with a caressing texture supported by lovely freshness. A food-friendly wine that is ready to drink sooner than the estate’s Pulignys.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Sous le Puits: perched high above the hamlet of Blagny, this climat lies on very stony marl and limestone soils. It produces a finely etched, taut, almost linear wine marked by lime zest, green pear and chalky salinity. A cuvée of pure tension, built to age.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny: from the highest and coolest part of the appellation, this premier cru stands out for its vertical profile and lively tension. White flowers, citrus and flinty notes define a wine of distinction whose youthful austerity softens after a few years in the cellar.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne: from the highest climat in the village, this cuvée combines freshness and creaminess with rare elegance. Its minerality shines through, supported by fine acidity and a silky texture. A crystalline Puligny that gains complexity after five to eight years.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Gain: planted on poor, very stony soil high on the slope, Champ Gain yields a wine that is both firm and fleshy. Green apple, fennel, fresh almond and warm stone play off one another along a focused backbone. A sculptural premier cru that calls for patience.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières: immediately adjacent to the grands crus, this climat traditionally produces rounder, richer wines that are approachable fairly young. The nose evokes fresh butter, hazelnut and ripe white fruit; the palate is generous and enveloping. Superb with poultry and morels.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts: situated on the lower slope at the border with Meursault, Les Referts has a fleshy, slightly more opulent profile, with notes of nectarine, toasted hazelnut and acacia honey. Its elegance remains complete, while a saline finish marks it unmistakably as Puligny.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Canet: renowned for its stony soil and appealing toasted aromas, this climat produces one of the richest wines in the range. It offers a broad palate, notes of toasted almond and candied lemon, and a long mineral backbone. A wine built for extended aging, magnificent with lobster.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes: the estate’s flagship cuvée, from one hectare of old vines around fifty years of age. Broad, generous and perfectly streamlined, it displays striking stony minerality and aging potential worthy of a grand cru. Production is very limited, and the wine is highly sought after.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Truffière: a high-altitude climat with marl-limestone soils, La Truffière yields a subtle, complex wine with notes of undergrowth, citrus and gentle spice. The palate is long and savory, driven by vibrant acidity. A small-production cuvée that rewards patience.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières (En la Richarde): one of the estate’s finest premier crus, from a steep, ideally exposed slope. The wine combines restrained power and aromatic density with a finish of striking length. White fruit, acacia blossom and smoky flint unfold in layers with remarkable precision.

Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: this small grand cru, a historic holding of the estate, is more slender and floral than neighboring Bâtard. White flowers, citrus, stone fruit and a long mineral thread make for a wine of exceptional finesse. It is exceedingly rare, with some years yielding only a few barrels.

Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: a magnificent white wine brought to new heights by the house. Its aromatic intensity blends minerality, citrus, fresh butter and persistent smoky notes, while the palate impresses with its breadth and glycerol-rich texture. A powerful, distinguished grand cru to cellar for several years.

Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru: from the upper slope, on thin, highly calcareous soils, this grand cru embodies pure verticality. A nose of aristocratic precision balances floral and smoky notes; the palate is finely etched, taut and endlessly persistent. One of the world’s finest expressions of Chardonnay.

Montrachet Grand Cru: at the pinnacle of both Burgundy’s hierarchy and the range, this exceptional wine brings together power, depth and refinement. It combines extraordinary richness and aromas of candied yellow fruit, hazelnut and honey with saline freshness that carries the finish for many seconds. Produced in minute quantities, it needs at least ten years in the cellar.