critic reviews
The 2019 Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru opens in the glass with scents of pear, honeycomb, toasted nuts, orange oil and white flowers, framed by a light touch of reduction. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's rich and muscular, with a broad-shouldered, powerful profile, lively acids and a bright, mineral finish. This is a dramatic Bienvenues in the making from Sauzet.
The 2019 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from a single parcel towards the Pucelles side, just 8 rows of vines to be exact, equivalent to two and a half barrels. The vines were planted in 1936, the oldest of the domaine and matured in no new oak. The bouquet is slightly reduced but that works in its favour as the terroir still comes through: crushed rock, fleeting glimpses of yellow plum and orange rind. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, quite vibrant towards the finish that shows possibly more concentration than the Chevalier-Montrachet. I can understand why this is Riffaut’s pick of his 2019s.