Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru la Garenne 2016 750ml

The 2016 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne was not affected by frost and consequently enjoyed similar yields as 2015, among the highest of Sauzet’s 2016s. The nose is elegant and stylish with apple blossom, brioche and hazelnut scents that lean a little toward Meursault. The palate is well balanced with a fine thread of acidity, sappy in the mouth with a crisp if just slightly abrupt, slate-like finish. Good potential and I suspect it will put on weight in bottle.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Cote De Beaune
• Sub Appellation: Puligny Montrachet
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.