Winemaker Notes

The 2023 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc, Jardin du Calvaire, by Etienne Sauzet is a crisp, taut, and tense white with ripe green apple, bright lime notes, and an elegant floral character. Winemaker Benoît Riffault feels that the heat of the vintage helped with ripening; this is not a rigid or tart expression of the Hautes-Côtes. There is some grip and texture behind, though the crisp tang wins out. The finish is really fine, with mouth-watering acidity keeping the alcohol nicely in check. The wine was aged in foudres from François Frères

About the Winery

The history of this domaine dates to the beginning of the 20th century, when Etienne Sauzet inherited and bought several plots of vines in the village of Puligny-Montrachet. The vines passed through the family to Jeanine Boillot, Sauzet’s granddaughter. Jeanine and her husband, Gérard Boudot, managed the domaine, making many modernizations including improved vinification techniques and biodynamic farming.

Today the domaine has been passed to their daughter Emilie and her husband, Benoît Riffault, who continue to produce white wines that are among the most sought-after in all of Burgundy. Although the winemaking techniques have been modernized, M. Sauzet’s traditions of estate-bottling and of aging the wines on their lees for 10-12 months to “nourish them” are still respected and result in superbly finished, fruity, and full-bodied wines. After four generations, Sauzet is still synonymous with high-quality, elegant, Burgundian Chardonnay.