2023 Domaine Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Sous le Puits”, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Sous le Puits is one of Puligny’s highest and coolest Premier Cru vineyards, located on the upper slope above the hamlet of Blagny. Its altitude, rocky limestone soils, and exposure lend the wine a naturally taut, linear profile, with excellent acidity and mineral backbone. In the sun-drenched but balanced 2023 vintage, this site retained its hallmark precision and lift, offering a beautifully tensioned counterpoint to the year’s generous fruit.

The Chardonnay grapes were hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented with native yeasts in French oak barrels—about 20% new. Élevage continued for approximately 12 months in barrel, followed by a short rest in tank before bottling to preserve vibrancy and finesse. The result is a wine that’s refined, chiseled, and expressive of site.

On the palate, the 2023 Sous le Puits is taut and energetic, revealing layers of citrus oils, orchard fruit, wet chalk, and faint hazelnut. The acidity is linear and vibrant, supporting a long, saline finish. It pairs beautifully with oysters, poached white fish, or vegetable terrines, and will evolve gracefully over the next 8–10 years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Etienne Sauzet, located in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet, is among the most revered white wine producers in Burgundy. Now helmed by Emilie and Benoît Riffault, the domaine has fully embraced biodynamic viticulture, focusing on soil vitality, precision farming, and a philosophy of minimal intervention to let each vineyard’s character shine.

Known for wines that emphasize purity, tension, and aromatic finesse, Sauzet’s style is particularly well-suited to high-altitude sites like Sous le Puits. Each cuvée is crafted with care—from low yields and meticulous hand-harvesting to gentle vinification and restrained use of oak.

In the 2023 vintage, Sous le Puits reflects the domaine’s hallmark style: elegant, mineral, and quietly powerful, capturing both the spirit of Puligny and the poise of this distinctive Premier Cru.