Domaine Ponsot : Corton Grand cru "Cuvée du Bourdon" 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Corton Grand Cru "Cuvée du Bourdon" 2018 from Domaine Ponsot

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a garnet hue with deep ruby highlights, reflecting fine concentration.

Nose
The bouquet reveals aromas of cherries and raspberries, accompanied by notes of potpourri, spice and undergrowth. The whole exudes a welcome freshness and remarkable elegance.

Palate
The palate is medium- to full-bodied, both lively and concentrated. It shows real energy and excellent structural refinement. Fine tannins provide structure without overpowering the fruit expression. The finish lingers with persistence and definition.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton Grand Cru "Cuvée du Bourdon" 2018 pairs perfectly with roasted poultry, duck and feathered game. It also goes beautifully with braised lamb, rib of beef served with brown sauces, as well as aged cheeses such as tomme or Gruyère. Dishes featuring wild mushrooms and caramelized root vegetables also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

This Corton Grand Cru "Cuvée du Bourdon" 2018 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favorably through around 2034. An optimal drinking window is anticipated from 2027-2028 onward.

A Corton Grand Cru combining power and freshness, Domaine Ponsot’s hallmark in Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1872 by William Ponsot in Morey-Saint-Denis, Domaine Ponsot now spans around eleven hectares, with over 80% dedicated to Grands Crus. A family estate for five generations, it is currently run by Rose-Marie Ponsot, supported by Alexandre Abel as estate manager and cellar master. The estate stands out for its environmentally respectful winegrowing approach, late harvesting, and its refusal to use new barrels during aging. It notably holds the monopoly on the only Burgundy premier cru made entirely from Aligoté, Clos des Monts Luisants, planted in 1911.

The vineyard

The Corton Grand Cru covers the Hill of Corton, located at the transition between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. This appellation extends across three communes: Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The vines benefit from an eastern exposure, at altitudes between 200 and 300 meters. The soils have a complex composition combining brown-red earth, flint and limestone debris rich in potassium and phosphoric acid, giving the wines their distinctive mineral character and structural intensity. Corton Grand Cru "Cuvée du Bourdon" 2018 is made from a blend of three climats: around 60% from Les Paulands, 20% from Les Perrières and 20% from Clos du Roi.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy proved early and warm, with harvesting running from mid-August to mid-September depending on the producer. The hot, dry conditions produced grapes with high sugar levels and thick skins. This vintage required particular attention at harvest time and rigorous extraction management to preserve freshness and avoid over-extraction of tannins. Timely rain at the end of August helped refine ripeness ahead of picking in sunny weather.

Vinification and aging

Harvesting is carried out by hand, with rigorous sorting directly in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place in oak vats with maceration lasting around two to three weeks. For the 2018 vintage, the fermentation temperature was deliberately limited to a maximum of 30°C to control extraction and preserve freshness. Aging takes place in old oak barrels, with no use of new wood, allowing a pure expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir