Domaine Etienne Sauzet is arguably one of Puligny Montrachet’s finest estates. Established in the 1920s, the domaine is run by the fourth generation of the Sauzet family, Emilie (the great-great-granddaughter of Etienne) and her winemaker husband Benoit Riffault, a native of Sancerre. Together they own 10 hectares in Puligny-Montrachet and have recently acquired five hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Beaune around the villages of Orches and Nolay, just beyond Saint-Romain and Saint-Aubin. Domaine Etienne Sauzet also purchases grapes from other family members and trusted growers. The estate has been practising biodynamic viticulture since 2009 and has recently reduced their use of new oak to allow the elegance of their fruit to shine through.
Benoit’s immaculate winemaking approach is evident in the wines of Domaine Etienne Sauzet, which are all defined by minerality, precision and exceptional length. The Aligote is fermented and aged for 18 months in amphora-esque ‘gres’ sandstone vats and demonstrates why this historically overlooked variety deserves attention. The Bourgogne ‘La Tufera’ punches well above its classification and is sourced from four parcels in Puligny-Montrachet with an average vine age of 50 years old. The resulting wine displays bright fruit intensity, aromas of white flowers and lovely acidity. The fruit for the Hautes Cotes de Beaune ‘Jardin du Calvaire’, a wine exclusive to Liberty Wines, comes from a vineyard planted at an elevation of 450 metres at the end of a steep path called ‘la route du Calvaire’ (‘the Calvary route’, an indication of its steepness). The resulting wine is defined by an elegant and refined style, with great tension and length on the palate.
The Etienne Sauzet Pulignys are a masterclass in elegance and complexity, all demonstrating the signature lemony aromatics, marked
