# Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Combettes (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine Etienne Sauzet
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Chardonnay
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €276
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, orange, limestone, apple, acacia blossom, grapefruit, smoke, vanilla

## About this wine

Domaine Etienne Sauzet's Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Combettes from the 2023 vintage is a distinguished white wine from Burgundy, France. The 'Les Combettes' vineyard, a Premier Cru climat bordering Meursault, is known for its stony limestone soils and exceptionally old vines, with a significant portion dating back 70 years. The estate considers this parcel its 'mother-vine,' using its cuttings for all new plantings, highlighting its importance. The domaine, now in its fourth generation under Emilie Boudot and Benoît Riffault, practices organic and biodynamic viticulture, aiming to express the unique energy of their terroirs. The 2023 vintage, marked by a warm but balanced growing season, yielded wines of richness and precision, with bright fruit and good acidity, promising long-term cellaring potential.

## Interesting facts

- Two-thirds of the vines in Les Combettes are 70 years old.
- The estate calls the Les Combettes parcel its 'mother-vine'.
- The domaine has been certified organic since 2013.
- The 2023 harvest began on August 28th to manage sugar levels.

## Food pairing

The wine's high acidity cuts through rich sauces and complements fatty proteins, while its complex fruit and mineral notes harmonize with delicate seafood and earthy mushrooms. The wine's structure can stand up to richer preparations.

## Wine making process

Domaine Etienne Sauzet employs a meticulous winemaking process designed to showcase the purity of their Chardonnay. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed, and the juice is settled overnight before fermentation begins with native yeasts in oak barrels. For Premier Cru wines like Les Combettes, aging occurs in 228-liter barrels for about 12 months, with around 30% new oak, followed by a further 6 months in stainless steel tanks. This approach aims to integrate the wine's fruit, minerality, and subtle oak influence, resulting in wines of clarity and terroir expression. The 2023 harvest began on August 28th, a strategic decision to manage ripeness in a warm year.