Laurent Ponsot

History of Domaine Laurent Ponsot

The story of Laurent Ponsot is written in two chapters. The first begins in 1981, when he joined the Domaine Ponsot founded by his great-grandfather William Ponsot in 1872 in Morey-Saint-Denis. From 1983 onwards, he oversaw its winemaking. Under his direction, Domaine Ponsot became one of the absolute references of the Côte de Nuits, celebrated for its Clos de la Roche Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, its Clos Saint-Denis Très Vieilles Vignes, and the unique white Premier Cru of Burgundy made from Aligoté, the Clos des Monts-Luisants. An exceptional individual, Laurent Ponsot also distinguished himself through his decisive contribution to the arrest of the forger Rudy Kurniawan in 2013, an affair that would inspire the Netflix documentary "Sour Grapes".

In 2017, at the age of 60, Laurent Ponsot left the family domaine (now led by his sister Rose-Marie) to found, together with his son Clément and his children, his own house: Laurent Ponsot, based in Gilly-lès-Cîteaux. Both a domaine and a haute couture négociant, the house produces approximately 70,000 to 80,000 bottles per year from its own vineyard of around 7 hectares and from hand-selected grape purchases from winemaker friends who share the same philosophy. No fewer than 26 Burgundy appellations are now offered, ranging from regional Bourgogne to the most prestigious Grands Crus, making Laurent Ponsot one of the most distinctive and celebrated names in contemporary Burgundy.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Laurent Ponsot

Domaine Laurent Ponsot covers an exceptional viticultural geography, spanning the greatest terroirs of the Côte d'Or. In the Côte de Nuits, the domaine produces its cuvées across Gevrey-Chambertin (with the climats En Ergot and Combe au Moine), Chambolle-Musigny (with Les Charmes and Les Sentiers as Premiers Crus), Vosne-Romanée (with Les Beaux Monts), Vougeot Premier Cru, and Saint-Romain. The Grands Crus, the jewels of the house, include Bonnes-Mares, Clos de Vougeot, Échezeaux, Charmes-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, Chambertin, and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. In the Côte de Beaune, the offering unfolds around Beaune Premier Cru, Meursault (with the Premiers Crus Genevrières, Charmes, Perrières, and Blagny), the Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne, and reaches its zenith with Bâtard-Montrachet and Montrachet.

This diversity rests on two pillars: an estate vineyard of approximately 7 hectares made up of plots acquired by Laurent Ponsot when he left the family domaine, and a rigorous sourcing process from partner growers selected for their shared philosophy. The vines are farmed according to the principles of organic agriculture, with a strong respect for lunar cycles and a biodynamic approach without certification. All cuvées bear the name of a tree, flower, or plant — a poetic homage to nature, the legacy of a man who, as a child, would roam the Clos de la Roche collecting grass snakes.

Winemaking at Domaine Laurent Ponsot

Laurent Ponsot's winemaking philosophy rests on a radical principle: "haute couture" without interventionism. The winemaker practices very late harvesting, consistently being among the last to harvest in the Côte de Nuits, in order to achieve optimal ripeness. In the cellar, fermentations and aging proceed without any addition of sulfites, with the winemaker using a neutral gas instead to protect the wines in barrel. The barrels used are exclusively old wood (10 years and older): Laurent Ponsot categorically rejects new oak, which he likens to an "artificial flavor extract" that alters the expression of the terroir.

The wines are neither fined nor filtered, bottled according to lunar phases (waning moon combined with a northerly wind). Another signature: an innovative synthetic cork, the fruit of more than 20 years of personal research, which ensures controlled and consistent oxygenation to optimize aging. The whole is dressed in silver and green labels with a futuristic design, deeply atypical for Burgundy. This approach gives birth to wines that are dense, concentrated, expressive, and incredibly fresh despite the late harvests — wines that reveal their full greatness after several years of cellaring.

The cuvées of Domaine Laurent Ponsot

Bourgogne Blanc Cuvée du Perce Neige: a regional Chardonnay sourced from several Burgundian lieux-dits. A saline, concentrated, and precise wine — no new oak, no fining, no filtration — demonstrating that regional Bourgogne can rival higher appellations.

Saint-Romain Blanc: a delicate cuvée from the appellation dear to the heart of the Ponsot family (William Ponsot being originally from Saint-Romain). Fresh, saline Chardonnay with chalky minerality, the perfect entry point into the white wine range.

Meursault Cuvée du Pandoréa: a village blend sourced from several plots provided by 5 to 6 partner growers. A broad, deep, complex Meursault with an enchanting texture and a long, mineral finish.

Meursault-Blagny Cuvée du Myosotis: a Meursault situated on the more taut and mineral climat of Blagny, which here expresses its distinctive identity. A floral, fresh, saline wine of great energy — one of the most vibrant cuvées in the range.

Meursault Premier Cru Genevrières: an emblematic Premier Cru from Meursault, combining richness, depth, and finesse. A balanced wine blending citrus, white flowers, and minerality, built for aging.

Meursault Premier Cru Charmes Cuvée de la Centaurée: a Premier Cru sourced from five suppliers covering the entire climat. Floral, broad, and luxuriously textured, this Charmes offers depth, muscle, and a persistently long finish.

Meursault Premier Cru Perrières: the pinnacle of the Meursault appellation, Perrières here produces a mineral, vertical, deep wine of crystalline purity. A masterful expression of the most aristocratic climat of the appellation.

Corton-Charlemagne Cuvée du Kalimeris: a white Grand Cru assembled from 6 suppliers representing the principal exposures of the Charlemagne. A floral, structured, ample wine with saline freshness and monumental length.

Bâtard-Montrachet Cuvée des Lilas: a Grand Cru from Chassagne and Puligny, a wine of volume and presence, deeply floral and muscular. A complete expression of one of the greatest white climates of Burgundy.

Montrachet Cuvée des Orchidées: the absolute pinnacle of the range, the mythical Montrachet. A wine of infinite intensity, depth, and length — an architectural monument combining power, chalky sap, and ineffable refinement.

Bourgogne Rouge Cuvée des Peupliers: a regional Pinot Noir assembled from around ten plots. Neither fined nor filtered, this Bourgogne offers pure aromas of cherry and red fruit, balanced concentration, and a surprisingly long finish for the price of a regional wine.

Saint-Romain Rouge: a Pinot Noir from this discreet appellation of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. A fresh, floral, and delicate wine that reveals the largely unknown quality of Saint-Romain in red.

Beaune Premier Cru Cuvée du Noyer: a blend of 8 Premiers Crus from the three hills of Beaune. A mineral, dark Pinot Noir of brilliant clarity, with beautiful acidity and a slender, elegant finish.

Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée l'Aulne: a village Gevrey crafted from around ten plots, some of which are estate-owned. A direct, intense wine with silky yet present tannins and the characteristically indulgent finish typical of Gevrey tannin.

Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru En Ergot Cuvée du Mélèze: an ethereal, sophisticated Premier Cru from Gevrey, endowed with beautiful depth and concentrated substance. A refined expression of the appellation.

Gevrey-Chambertin Combe au Moine: a well-regarded climat of Gevrey, situated on the heights. A fresh, elegant, structured wine with the typical mineral signature of the elevated terroirs of the appellation.

Chambolle-Musigny Cuvée La Violette: a village Chambolle assembled from around ten components. A wine of pure elevation, energetic, lightly tannic but never structural, with the floral delicacy that is the signature of the appellation.

Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Charmes Cuvée du Tilleul: an ethereal and silky Premier Cru with cushioned aromatic clarity. Subtle, structuring tannin, concentration, and a long finish: a great Charmes patiently crafted.

Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Sentiers Cuvée du Sorbier: a Premier Cru neighboring the Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares. An elegant, silken wine with a pure nose, a more sinuous and muscular structure — an athlete among the Chambolle wines.

Vougeot Premier Cru: a rare Premier Cru from the Vougeot appellation, expressing a delicate, fresh, and precise Pinot Noir with a fine mineral framework.

Vosne-Romanée Cuvée du Cerisier: a village Vosne-Romanée with a pale color, an open, ethereal, and deep nose. A broad palate with a splendid texture, lingering complexity — one of the house's great successes at village level.

Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts: an emblematic Premier Cru climat of Vosne-Romanée. A deep Pinot Noir with noble sap, captivating aromas, and an exceptional aging structure — the signature of one of the most prestigious climates of the Côte de Nuits.

Clos de Vougeot Cuvée du Cèdre: a Grand Cru from the celebrated historic Clos. A deep, dense wine with rich sap and refined tannins — a complete expression of this monument of the Côte de Nuits.

Échezeaux: a Grand Cru from Vosne-Romanée of aristocratic finesse. A fragrant, complex wine with an elegant framework and remarkable length.

Charmes-Chambertin: a Grand Cru from Gevrey with fleshy sap and brilliant fruit. A wine combining Burgundian power with delicacy, built for long aging.

Latricières-Chambertin: a Grand Cru neighbor of Chambertin, more taut and mineral. A deep, structured Pinot Noir with great aging potential and noble freshness.

Mazis-Chambertin: a particularly noble Grand Cru from Gevrey, with a refined tannic structure and fruit of great purity. A majestic wine for aging.

Griotte-Chambertin: an intimate and delicate Grand Cru from Gevrey, celebrated for its cherry aromas (the griotte). A fragrant, silky, deep wine — one of the historic cuvées dear to Laurent Ponsot.

Chambertin: the King of Burgundy wines. A Grand Cru of monumental intensity, complexity, and length, combining power, finesse, and majesty.

Chambertin Clos de Bèze: a Grand Cru neighbor and equal of Chambertin. A Pinot Noir of great depth, with noble sap and infinite length — an absolute monument of the Côte de Nuits.

Bonnes-Mares: a Grand Cru straddling Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. A wine of power and elegance, blending the delicacy of Chambolle with the depth of Morey, with an almost infinite aging potential.