Burgundies from Sauzet
These are the reviews from the latest issue of Burghound, probably the true authority on Burgundies. As you can see the allocation is miniscule and the reviews are spectacular. For those of you who do not subscribe to Burghound, the scoring is very severe and 97 points would be equal to other writers 99 pts.
All the wines are from Sauzet
2007 Bâtard-Montrachet: 95 pts (6 bottles) $249 ea
(from vines in both Puligny and Chassagne that is almost a 50/50 split and aged in 50% new wood). A discreet hint of post-bottling SO2 is just noticeable enough that I would suggest decanting this for 30 minutes first if you're tempted to try one young. Otherwise, a restrained and pure nose features notes of white flower, fresh citrus peel and a mix of pear and white peach which lead to richer, fuller and more powerful if not necessarily more concentrated broad shouldered flavors that possess relatively fine detail and balance on the explosive and gorgeously long finish. 2014+
2007 Chevalier-Montrachet: 96 pts (3 bottles) $289 ea
(25+ year old vines aged in 50% new oak). As with the Bâtard, there is a discreet hint of post bottling SO2 that is just noticeable – decant. A classic, and radiant, Chevalier nose offers perhaps the purest fruit in the range with a mix of upper and middle register acacia blossom and fresh lemon aromas that are seductively enveloping before sliding seamlessly into strikingly detailed, stony and almost Chablis-like flavors carrying a similar sense of salinity and this is like rolling tiny pebbles around in the mouth, all wrapped in a palate-etching finish of spectacular length. This is breath-taking stuff and the focus and linearity are superb. This should age well for years. Textbook Chevalier. 2015+
2007 Montrachet: 97 Pts (9 bottles) $459 ea
(made from purchased must sourced from Domaine Thénard, whose vines are on the Chassagne side; aged in 67% new oak). This is ever-so-slightly riper and less restrained aromatically than the Chevalier with a densely fruited nose offering lightly spiced pear, white peach, lemon-lime and a hint of honeysuckle plus a touch of clove and anise that merge seamlessly into concentrated, powerful and weighty flavors that are not massive but they are focused, well-muscled and impressively scaled all the same and culminate in a superbly complex and deep finish that reminds me a lot of the 2002 version as it seems to come in wave after palate drenching wave. This is not as elegant and pure as the Chevalier but it somehow manages to deliver yet another dimension. In sum, an absolute knockout. Amazingly, this rivals the '93 as the best Montrachet Sauzet has ever made, and anyone who has tasted a well-stored bottle knows that is high praise. 2015+
Wide World of Wines 2201 Wisconsin Ave., NW
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