2013 Domaine Étienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts 1er Cru

Firm and focused, with a good core of white peach fruit – but still neutral to a fault given its pedigree. (AH)

The 2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru les Referts has a poised, tightly wound bouquet with hints of blackberry leaf and licorice suggesting that post-bottling, this might turn out to be spicy little number. Nothing wrong with that! The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with a steeliness coming through with aeration, then it lets go during the second half with citrus lemon, orange zest, freshly squeezed lime and a long minerally finish. This is one of the more mercurial Puligny's from Sauzet - very intriguing.

(from much lower altitude than the Hameau de Blagny, on clay-rich soil): Pale yellow. Lovely floral lift to the yellow peach aroma. Tactile and dense but energetic too, with noteworthy dusty depth to the flavors of apricot, yellow peach, mint and menthol. Savory and distinctly dry on the persistent if rather uncompromising finish. Perhaps a bit acid for its volume, but there's power here.