Domaine Ponsot : Charmes-Chambertin Grand cru "Cuvée des Merles" 2017

Tasting notes and serving tips for the Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée des Merles" 2017 from Domaine Ponsot

Tasting

Appearance

The color displays a deep red hue with ruby to almost black highlights, evoking ripe black cherry.

Nose

The nose reveals a pronounced aromatic bouquet dominated by notes of black cherries and crème de cassis. Floral nuances of violet complete this generous aromatic palette.

Palate

On the palate, this wine is full and fleshy, with a satin-like, expansive texture. The fine, structured tannins remain perfectly enveloped in luscious, fruit-driven substance. The palate shows a medium to full body, carried by a supple, refined tannic structure. The finish offers lovely length with subtle aromas of red fruits with a light tarry note, lifted by peppery hints.

Food and wine pairings

This Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée des Merles" 2017 pairs ideally with feathered game such as duck or goose, especially when confit or roasted with red-fruit sauces. It also matches perfectly with venison and other furred game, as well as cuts of beef prepared with mushrooms or truffles. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, as well as Burgundian washed-rind cheeses, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée des Merles" 2017 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16-17°C. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2036. For optimal aging, store the bottles horizontally in an environment with a constant temperature between 10 and 15°C.

A Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru combining power and Burgundian finesse

The estate

Founded in 1872 in Morey-Saint-Denis, the Domaine Ponsot today represents five generations of Burgundian winemaking expertise. Initially established by William Ponsot, who acquired parcels in the village, the estate was among the pioneers of estate bottling as early as 1932 under the impetus of Hippolyte Ponsot. Now led by Rose-Marie Ponsot since 2017, assisted by winemaker Alexandre Abel and grower Denis Remondet, the domaine manages around 3.5 hectares of estate-owned vines. Renowned for its minimalist winemaking philosophy and respect for natural processes, Domaine Ponsot cultivates its vines without synthetic chemical products and vinifies with indigenous yeasts, favoring the authentic expression of the Burgundian terroir.

The vineyard

Charmes-Chambertin is one of the most prestigious Grands Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin, spanning around 30 hectares. Located on a hillside facing south and east, the vineyard benefits from optimal exposure for Pinot Noir ripening. The terroir rests on soils composed of Jurassic limestone and marl, with a thin top layer covering calcareous rocky outcrops. This distinctive geological composition gives the wines remarkable finesse combined with a generous structure characteristic of the appellation. Domaine Ponsot’s parcels in Charmes-Chambertin are farmed under sharecropping agreements.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage in Bourgogne was marked by favorable conditions enabling healthy grape development. The year delivered a satisfying balance with well-integrated tannins and a delicate fruit expression, particularly for producers who harvested at optimal ripeness without seeking excessive concentration.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée des Merles" 2017 are hand-harvested into wicker baskets, with rigorous sorting carried out directly in the vineyard. After gentle crushing, fermentation occurs naturally in oak vats with indigenous yeasts over two to three weeks. The estate performs manual punch-downs three times a day. Aging takes place in French oak barrels at least five years old for sixteen to twenty-four months, without intermediate racking, allowing the wine to remain in contact with its lees. Bottling is carried out according to the waning lunar phases.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir