Laurent Ponsot is a name that will always be tied to Burgundian history, not only because he led his family’s estate — the iconic Domaine Ponsot — for over 30 years and helped it achieve new heights, but also because he was a key figure in the fall of Rudy Kurniawan, dramatically interrupting an auction that featured counterfeit Ponsot bottles in 2008 and later working with authorities to uncover the extent of Rudy’s crimes (see the “Sour Grapes” documentary if you’re not familiar with this).
In 2017, however, Laurent surprisingly left Domaine Ponsot to start his own micro-negociant label with his son. In the process of establishing a new identity for the name “Laurent Ponsot,” the estate has been at the forefront of packaging innovation within the constraints of a traditional glass bottle — NFC microchips in the capsule, ultra-modern technical corks, temperature indicators, high-tech security features within the label, and a futuristic design that can mercifully be described as… very ugly.
But what about the juice? This 2018 Meursault ‘Cuvee du Pandorea’ is an early effort from the Laurent Ponsot label. As far as I know, the cuvee name doesn’t have a tie to the vineyards, but is rather based on Laurent’s preference for using botanical terms to describe wines (Pandorea is a fragrant flowering plant). It is a blend of fruit from 6 independent growers in Meursault, and was aged in mostly second-use oak barrels for over a year. Alcohol is moderate for the warm 2018 vintage at 12.5% ABV.
**Tasting Notes:** Medium gold color. Expressive nose of citrus fruit, white flowers, and some toast. Round, creamy palate, with good balance and a medium+, slightly saline finish. I really enjoyed this one — I expected it to be a bit “in your face” (like the label lol), but it’s restrained and elegant for a Meursault from a hot vintage.
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Laurent Ponsot is a name that will always be tied to Burgundian history, not only because he led his family’s estate — the iconic Domaine Ponsot — for over 30 years and helped it achieve new heights, but also because he was a key figure in the fall of Rudy Kurniawan, dramatically interrupting an auction that featured counterfeit Ponsot bottles in 2008 and later working with authorities to uncover the extent of Rudy’s crimes (see the “Sour Grapes” documentary if you’re not familiar with this).
In 2017, however, Laurent surprisingly left Domaine Ponsot to start his own micro-negociant label with his son. In the process of establishing a new identity for the name “Laurent Ponsot,” the estate has been at the forefront of packaging innovation within the constraints of a traditional glass bottle — NFC microchips in the capsule, ultra-modern technical corks, temperature indicators, high-tech security features within the label, and a futuristic design that can mercifully be described as… very ugly.
But what about the juice? This 2018 Meursault ‘Cuvee du Pandorea’ is an early effort from the Laurent Ponsot label. As far as I know, the cuvee name doesn’t have a tie to the vineyards, but is rather based on Laurent’s preference for using botanical terms to describe wines (Pandorea is a fragrant flowering plant). It is a blend of fruit from 6 independent growers in Meursault, and was aged in mostly second-use oak barrels for over a year. Alcohol is moderate for the warm 2018 vintage at 12.5% ABV.
**Tasting Notes:** Medium gold color. Expressive nose of citrus fruit, white flowers, and some toast. Round, creamy palate, with good balance and a medium+, slightly saline finish. I really enjoyed this one — I expected it to be a bit “in your face” (like the label lol), but it’s restrained and elegant for a Meursault from a hot vintage.
Easily the worst label in burgundy