Domaine Ponsot, Burgundy: 10 Best Bottles, Prices (2024)

Domaine Ponsot is one of Burgundy’s most revered estates, at the forefront of winemaking for four generations. 

The estate is best known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay labels, and the Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc Premier Cru (the only Premier Cru white Burgundy made entirely from Aligoté.) 

Let’s explore the Domaine Ponsot estate, including the wine styles, 10 outstanding bottles, and investment potential. We’ll also look at the winemaking practices and history.

Domaine Ponsot Wine Styles

83% of the wine production at the Domaine Ponsot estate is dedicated to red wine made from Pinot Noir. The rest is assigned to Aligote white wine. 

Domaine Ponsot produces four different Burgundy wines: Grand Cru (79%), Premier Cru (13%), Village (7%), and Regional (1%). 

Here are Domaine Ponsot’s wine styles:

A. Grand Cru

Below are Domaine Ponsot’s Grand Cru wines: 

• Corton Grand Cru: Located between 250 and 330 meters above sea level, Corton Grand Cru grows on a Jurassic-era base in reddish and stony soil with high contents of marl and potash. 
• Chambertin: The vines grow in limestone soils with variable clay content on the slope. The east-facing vineyard sits between 240 and 280 meters.
• Clos de Vougeot: A sloped vineyard with various soil types, including grainy at the top and steadily becoming more clayey and silty further down. 
• Clos de la Roche: The vines here grow in shallow soil from the Jurassic era. Wines from Clos de la Roche are known for their aging potential.
• Clos St Denis: Located at the base of the slope, Clos St Denis has mainly limestone soils with no gravel and larger concentrations of clay.
• Corton Charlemagne: Located on a steep slope, Corton Charlamagne grows in the middle of Montagne de Corton, offering ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay.

B. Premier Cru 

Here is Domaine Ponsot’s Premier Cru selection:

• Morey Saint Denis Clos Des Monts Luisants: The vines grow on steep slopes of the surrounding hillsides. Interestingly, the wine is produced from Aligoté and is the only Premier Cru in Burgundy made from this grape.
• Morey Saint Denis Premier Cru: The vines rest on a limestone base with limestone and clay-based soil. The vineyard faces east and sits between 220 and 280 meters.

C. Village

Below are the Village quality wines: 

• Saint Romain: The vineyard sits on a slope between 280 and 400m to take full advantage of the excellent, Lias-era soils. Mostly comprising limestone and marl, the soil is perfect for growing Chardonnay. 
• Gevrey Chambertin: Between 280 and 380m, the Village appellation extends down over limestone soils. The vines benefit from marl with scree and red silt.
• Morey Saint-Denis: The vines grow in soils rich in limestone and clay at an elevation of between 220 and 270m.

D. Regional

Domaine Ponsot makes one Regional wine: 

• Bourgogne: Located on the foothills of the coast, the vines have rich limestone soils with good drainage.

Next, let’s look at a few of the best Domaine Ponsot wines: 

10 Delectable Domaine Ponsot Wines Worth Buying in 2024

Here are 10 of Domaine Ponsot’s best wines: 

• 2004 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru ‘Cuvee Vielles Vignes’
• 1990 Domaine Ponsot Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru
• 1999 Domaine Ponsot Chambertin
• 2005 Domaine Ponsot Clos Saint-Denis
• 2015 Domaine Ponsot Griotte Chambertin
• 2008 Domaine Ponsot Clos de Vougeot Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
• 2012 Domaine Ponsot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
• 2006 Domaine Ponsot Clos des Monts Luisants
• 2012 Domaine Ponsot Saint-Romain ‘Cuvee de la Mesange’
• 2006 Domaine Ponsot Bourgogne Cuvee du Pinson

1. 2004 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru ‘Cuvee Vielles Vignes’ ($3,850)

Complex aromas of red berry, earth, and spice define the nose. The wine is rich with flavors imparted from the dry extract on the palate.

2. 1990 Domaine Ponsot Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru ($1,440)

A nose revealing hints of herbs and black fruit leading to rich, sweet flavors creates a perfectly balanced and full-bodied red wine.

3. 1999 Domaine Ponsot Chambertin ($990)

A gorgeous nose of cranberries and violets leads to a perfectly structured wine that incorporates firm tannins, crisp acidity, and rich fruit flavors.

4. 2005 Domaine Ponsot Clos Saint-Denis ($2,111)

Delicious sweet and spicy aromas lead to a palate of dates, red apples, and black pepper in this great wine.

5. 2015 Domaine Ponsot Griotte Chambertin ($591)

Elegant aromas of red and black cherry with notes of plum and violet. A medium-bodied palate highlighted by a flavor of blueberries and a hint of Seville orange.

6. 2008 Domaine Ponsot Clos de Vougeot Cuvee Vieilles Vignes ($403)

A beautifully complex nose of earthy and spicy dark fruit gives way to plum and blackberry flavors.

7. 2012 Domaine Ponsot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru ($320)

A deep nose blends pear, apple, and white flowers to compliment a palate of refined acidity and brilliant length. 

8. 2006 Domaine Ponsot Clos des Monts Luisants ($226)

Nectarine, apricot, and fresh lime blend with notes of yeast and vanilla. Tasting notes include intense and sweet flavors of bright citrus and stone fruit.

9. 2012 Domaine Ponsot Saint-Romain ‘Cuvee de la Mesange’ ($117)

A spicy nose of crushed herbs and bright lemon blends with a delicate flavor of rich fruit on the palate.

10. 2006 Domaine Ponsot Bourgogne Cuvee du Pinson ($99)

A floral nose with hints of earth and red cherries compliments tasting notes of cranberry, cherry, and blackberry.

Curious about which are the best for investing? 

Investing in Domaine Ponsot Wines

Producing some of the greatest wine in Burgundy, Domaine Ponsot wines will only improve with age and the Grand Crus need at least a decade of aging. 

Additionally, wines from Burgundy continue to outperform those from Bordeaux, and Domaine Ponsot has been at the forefront for several years. It’s popular among critics, receiving consistently high scores and performing exceptionally at auctions.

For example, six bottles of 1964 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche sold at a Bonhams auction in December 2013 for around $6,400. 

And, in 2018, a case of 1985 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche sold for $123,000 at Sotheby’s Jerry Perrenchio auction. 

If you’re looking to invest in these wines, a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest can help with all your wine investment needs!

Domaine Ponsot: Viticulture and Winemaking

Domaine Ponsot produces wine from 10 vineyards with no pesticides or fertilizer. 

The estate is also one of the last Côte de Nuits producers who select each grape on the vine rather than using a sorting table. 

Generally, the grapes are picked into wicker baskets without being destemmed for crushing in the estate’s 1945-era vertical press. Once pressed, the wine is gravity-fed into old oak fermenting tanks, staying for 10-20 days. 

Pigeage (grape treading) happens three times a day before flowing down to the barrel cellar. Here, the wine ages for up to 30 months in barrels at least five years old. The estate uses no new oak.

Bottling may only occur during the waning moon and when there’s a north wind. Additionally, the estate uses minimal sulfur dioxide, preferring to use nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or a combination of the two. 

Let’s take a brief look at the estate’s history. 

A Brief History of Domaine Ponsot

William Ponsot founded Domaine Ponsot in 1872 when he purchased a wine estate in Morey St Denis. 

After he passed away in 1926, his godson, Hippolyte Ponsot, inherited the estate. With his brother Henri Ponsot, Hippolyte expanded Clos de la Roche. 

When Hippolyte retired in 1957, he handed the estate to Jean Marie Ponsot. The holdings grew again in 1972 when Jean Marie’s wife, Jacqueline Ponsot Livera, inherited the estate vines.  

In 1981, Jean Marie’s son, Laurent Ponsot, began working and extended the estate’s holdings.

Domaine Ponsot’s wines were at the center of a counterfeit bottle scandal, where Rudy Kurniawan consigned several fake Clos de la Roche vintages.

Laurent left the wine estate in 2017 to found his own venture, called Laurent Ponsot. The estate remains in the Ponsot family, with Rose Marie Ponsot as the sole proprietor, seconded by Alexandre Abel. Laurent and Stéphanie Ponsot also have holdings.

Add A Bottle of Domaine Ponsot To Your Cellar Today

Domaine Ponsot is widely regarded as one of the best Burgundian estates, consistently producing great wine for generations. 

Whether you’re buying to drink or invest, you can’t go wrong with Ponsot wines. Vinovestcan help you buy fine wine from across the globe, including New Zealand and South Africa!