Discover The Awe-Inspiring Wines of Etienne Sauzet, Burgundy

Etienne Sauzet is a unique family-run Domaine is known for producing exquisite Chardonnay wines - some of the finest in Burgundy!

In this article, we’ll dive into our top 10 delicious Etienne Sauzet wines to try, winemaking techniques, as well as a quick look at the history of this innovative winery. 

We’ll also look at whether or not you should invest in a bottle of these delicious Burgundy wines.

A Quick Intro to Etienne Sauzet

Located in Puligny-Montrachet, Etienne Sauzet has around 37 acres of vineyards spread across Puligny-Montrachet, Cormot-le-Grand and Chassagne-Montrachet.

Etienne Sauzet has produced spectacular French white wine since the early 1950s, including sought-after Chevalier-Montrachet, Le Montrachet, and Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Champs Gain wines. 

The Domaine is run by Gérard Boudot (also known as M Boudot), who married the granddaughter of the late Etienne Sauzet. 

Gérard Boudot, now joined by daughter Emilie and son-in-law Benoît Riffault,produces textbook white Burgundies brimming with flavor and elegance.

Let’s dive into the ones you should try first!

Delicious Etienne Sauzet Wines To Try In 2022

Take a look at our top 10 wines from Domaine Etienne Sauzet. 

• 2017 Etienne Sauzet Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
• 2011 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2013 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2017 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2018 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2015 Etienne Sauzet Les Perrieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2016 Etienne Sauzet Champ Canet, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2018 Etienne Sauzet Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
• 2015 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet
• 2018 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet

1. 2017 Etienne Sauzet Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($755)

This fascinating white wine is made from the highest part of the Grand Cru vineyards. This white wine is delicate and refined on the palate with a tangy, crunchy, and mouthwateringly fresh feel. 

2. 2011 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($294)

The 2011 Combettes offers very citric aromas of apple, tangerine, lemon, and orange zest, a beautiful base of complex minerality, apple blossoms, emerging notes of paraffin, and a lovely base of vanilla oak. The wine is deep, full-bodied, pure, and almost silky on the palate, with an acceptable core, ripe, crisp acidity, and great length. 

3. 2013 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($219)

This beautiful bottle hits the nose with apple notes to start, white peach, followed by a chalky minerality, orange oil, hints of the floral tones, lemon zest, and vanilla oak. The wine is full-bodied with enormous backend energy, great focus, and a youthful finish on the mouth. 

4. 2017 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($215)

This wine offers tasting notes of soft spices, white peach, honeysuckle, and wet stone. This is a rich, full-bodied wine with bold flavors and dry extract that perfectly balances the firm acidity and leads to a complex and lingering finish.

5. 2018 Etienne Sauzet Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($183)

The 2018 Les Combettes has aromas of well-defined crushed stone, hints of orange blossom arising with time in the glass. The lightly spiced opening on the palate is well balanced with impressive weight and a condensed, stone fruit finish. 

6. 2015 Etienne Sauzet Les Perrieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($175)

The 2015 Perrières from Domaine Sauzet has a bouquet of apple, pear, chalky minerality, orange zest, vanilla oak, and lemon blossoms. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is ripe and rock-solid at the core, with great acidity, good backend minerality, and perfect length with a well-balanced finish.

7. 2016 Etienne Sauzet Champ Canet, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($164)

The 2016 Champ Canet has beautiful aromas of floral, white-fleshed orchard ripe fruit, and citrus peel with subtle hints of wood and menthol. There is a good spirit to the tasty and rich middle-weight flavors that create an outstanding complex and lingering finish on the palate.

8. 2018 Etienne Sauzet Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France ($145)

Produced from the Premier Crus vineyards, this 2018 vintage bursts open with aromas of citrus zest, smoke, fresh peach, and white flowers. This medium to full-bodied wine has a texture that transitions into a delicately fleshy mid-palate before ending with a chalky finish.

9. 2015 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, France ($109)

The 2015 Sauzet is a balanced wine with just the right energy and acidity. On the palate, experience tasting notes of minerals and limestone with hints of cream and citrus.

10. 2018 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, France ($82) 

This beautiful wine is ever-evolving on the nose, with notes of lemon zest, anise, hazelnut and milk, herbs, and minerals. This great wine has medium-high acidity and a superb balance on the finish with lemon and hints of herbs, toffee, and acidity. 

Let’s take a look at the viticulture at Etienne Sauzet.

Viticulture At Etienne Sauzet 

As one of Pulignys finest Domaines, Etienne Sauzet strongly adheres to biologic agriculture principles and biodynamics, to get the best out of their unique terroir. 

During the growing season, vines (aged 30-35 years) in the vineyards are de-budded to air out the vines and limit the yield. 

Vineyard workers also adapt their care-taking methods and work the solid of each vine and parcel. Each vine is harvested by hand over 7-10 days.

Etienne Sauzet also supplements the holdings’ grapes by purchasing grapes from the same appellations, including Chevalier-Montrachet, Champs Gains, and Le Montrachet.

Let’s look at how Etienne Sauzet produces its high-quality fine wine. 

Winemaking At Etienne Sauzet

Owner and winemaker, M Boudot, seeks 'maximum finesse and an individual expression of the terroir and Chardonnay grape variety.

• Grapes are sorted - ones with grey rot are removed where necessary.

• Each parcel is pressed separately for about two hours without crushing the grapes.

• The juice is then cooled for 12 hours before it is racked into French oak barrels (20% or less for the village-level appellations, La Garenne, 30% for the Premiers Crus, and 35% new oak for the Grands Crus.) 

• Alcoholic fermentation occurs in the barrel and is followed closely by density controls and daily temperature checks. 

This process can take two weeks to a few months, depending on the vintage. 

Should You Invest In Etienne Sauzet Wines?

Fine Chardonnay wines, such as white Burgundies, can age for a decade or more in the correct storage conditions.

Etienne Sauzet has also received praise from several influential critics. The 2020 Etienne Sauzet Montrachet Grand Cru was rated in the top 10 Le Montrachet wines and received a fantastic 97 points by wine critic Jasper Morris (Inside Burgundy)

The wines have also seen some steady growth over the years regarding price.

• 2012 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, France grew by 58%, from $114 to $271 (Dec 2020 - Dec 2021.) 

• 2011 Etienne Sauzet Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, France increased by 40%, from $117 to $198 (Nov 2020 - Nov 2021.)

Looking to add some mouth-watering Etienne Sauzet wines to your collection? 

Visit the Vinovest website and discover a hassle-free way to buy, sell, and store fine wine from all over the world. 

Let’s look at how this winery got started.

A Brief History Of Etienne Sauzet 

This Domaine's history starts in the 20th century when Etienne Sauzet bought and inherited plots under vine in the Puligny Montrachet Village. 

After Sauzet’s passing, his granddaughter, Jeanine Boillot, and her husband, Gérard Boudot, took over the management of the Domaine. 

They modernized the winery, introduced biodynamic farming, and improved vinification. 

Today, their daughter Emilie and her husband, Benoît Riffault, help manage the estate and continue to produce mouth-watering wines most desired in Burgundy. 

Even with the changes, the traditions of estate-bottling and aging are observed to produce superbly finished, fruity, and full-bodied wines. 

Add An Elegant Bottle Of Etienne Sauzet’s Wine To Your Collection

After four generations, Sauzet is still synonymous with high-quality, elegant Chardonnay wines.

A bottle of Etienne Sauzet is a must for all wine lovers who want to extend their collection or enjoy a delicious Chard at dinner.

If you want to add an Etienne Sauzet, a New Zealand Sauv Blanc, or even a sweet Italian white wine to your collection, use Vinovest.

Vinovest is an AI-based platform that gives you access to en primeur wines from all over the world from the comfort of your home.

They will help you find, buy, sell, store, and even arrange delivery to your doorstep if you want to open a bottle.