2016 Domaine Étienne Sauzet Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
Bright pale yellow. More exotic on the nose than the Combettes, offering aromas of dried fruits, mirabelle , hazelnut and smoky oak. Rich and quite ripe on the palate yet more vibrant than the nose suggests, with tangy lemon and lime flavors supported by firm underlying structure. Still quite reserved, if not a bit youthfully aggressive, and in need of time, but this wine gained steadily in freshness as it opened in the glass. Finishes with a floral pear note and excellent building length. Just one of the four barrels was new in 2016.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru was not too affected by frost according to Benoît, as the vines were partly protected by the wall that runs along the top of the vineyard toward Montrachet. It has a well-defined bouquet with expressive scents of green apple, fresh pear and a slight touch of mint, conveying a sense of coiled-up energy and frisson. The palate is well balanced with a fine thread of acidity, just a little honeyed in texture with quite an intense, spicy finish that leaves you with a positive impression. You know what...this might well turn out to be the best wine from Sauzet this year. Bravo.
(just four barrels made, vs. a normal seven or eight): A bit more exotic on the nose than most of the Sauzet premier crus, hinting at dried peach and mango. Ripe, thick, rich and concentrated, conveying a touch of sweetness and an element of saline minerality to its chewy peach and pear fruit. Tactile, soil-driven wine--and the longest on the finish among the Sauzet 2016s to this point.