Etienne Sauzet, 'Tufera' Bourgogne Blanc, 2020

Simply wonderful wine from one of the most prestigious names in Burgundy.

Famed for endlessly complex whites, Sauzet produces this delicious, generous, engaging and age-worthy Chardonnay that delivers far more than the appellation expectations. This wonderful vintage shows layers of very bright Chardonnay-scented apple flavours with honeysuckle, cashew and subtle spice notes, this is a classic gateway wine giving you a good view of what comes further up the appellation and wine maker's tree.

Sauzet is one of the most lauded names in Burgundy, celebrated as grape grower and wine maker. Now in the fourth generation, the original domaine lands are slightly broke into the strands of family ownership because of inheritance laws, but the thrust of the property and its quality is still the same as when Etienne died in 1975.

Based in Puligny Montrachet, the wines are some of the most intense, concentrated, balanced and highly sought-after that the village has ever made. Prices for the Grand Crus - they make four out of the five possible - are jaw-dropping, yet demand increases at a steady pace.

The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2006 and have been biodynamic since 2010. Fermented in oak barrels, the grapes are manually sorted at the winery before directly going to be pressed (wine nerd alert: they don't use a grape crusher here, there is no need to extract extra juice, in their opinion, because that which comes out is of such high quality that a gently press will do the requisite job etc etc!!).

This wine sees about 20% new oak for its ageing which is similar to the village level wines. The result is a wine that has great depth, freshness and body that is really, really good. Taken from one vineyard that is, essentially, declassified Puligny.

Quite remarkable wine that is, in accordance with its name, definitely not the usual suspect.