# Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières "En la Richarde" (2019)

- **Producer:** Domaine Etienne Sauzet
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €320
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 11–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, nectarine, passion fruit, lemon, grapefruit, orange, apple, pear, blossom, vanilla, cloves, butter, cream, toast, brioche, hazelnut, almond, honey, mushroom

## About this wine

Domaine Etienne Sauzet, established in the 1920s, is widely regarded as one of the benchmark estates of Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. Today, the estate is managed by Etienne's great-granddaughter Emilie Boudot and her husband, winemaker Benoît Riffault. The estate transitioned to organic farming in 2006 and completed its full biodynamic certification in 2010. The 'En la Richarde' parcel is a highly exclusive, microscopic sub-climat situated within the upper portion of the larger Les Folatières Premier Cru. Sitting directly adjacent to the Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet on the same contour line, this vineyard features extremely shallow, rocky, active limestone soils. The vines here were planted in 1962, offering deep-rooted complexity. The 2019 vintage was marked by severe spring frosts and a hot, dry summer, resulting in exceptionally low yields but producing grapes of remarkable concentration and structural tension.

## Interesting facts

- En la Richarde sits on the exact same contour line and elevation as the legendary Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet.
- The parcel is highly exclusive, shared by only four elite producers, including Benoit Ente and Domaine d'Auvenay.
- The 1962-planted vines were nearly 57 years old during the challenging, low-yielding 2019 harvest.

## Food pairing

This Premier Cru Chardonnay thrives alongside dishes that balance rich textures with vibrant acidity. The wine's high acidity cuts through rich, creamy sauces like beurre blanc or morel cream, while its medium-plus body and concentration match the weight of luxurious proteins like scallops, turbot, or sweetbreads. The subtle oak integration and nutty tertiary potential harmonize beautifully with toasted hazelnuts, mushrooms, and aged alpine cheeses.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Domaine Etienne Sauzet is designed to preserve the natural verticality and mineral elegance of the Puligny terroir. Grapes are manually harvested and gently pressed before undergoing fermentation with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with approximately 30% to 35% new oak utilized for Premier Crus to integrate subtle structure without overpowering the fruit. Following the barrel aging, the wine is racked into stainless steel tanks on its fine lees (sur lie) for an additional 6 months of settling. This traditional dual-phase aging process allows the wine to clarify naturally. It is bottled after traditional racking and natural settling (débourbage) with minimal filtration to maintain its structural integrity and aging potential.