2017 Domaine Ponsot Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos des Monts Luisants Vieille Vignes Blanc

The 2017 is a stunning white Burgundy with the rich texture of ripe, old-vine fruit, framed by fine acidity and mineral energy. It was pressed in Ponsot’s vertical press, fermented in both tank and barrel and then aged in neutral oak (all barriques between 10 and 60 years old). It’s been a few years since Clive Coates wrote the following, but it still captures well the spirit of this important wine: “There is a brilliant complexity and delicacy about today's Clos des Monts Luisants. It is delicious and it really is unique.” The 2017 is the finest example of this wine we have shipped. I defy anyone to pick the varietal here, it is simply a great white Burgundy, a great wine of place.

No new oak is used and Laurent Ponsot buys five year old barrels from other respected domaines to use on his own wines. Most barrels are 10-50 years of age. The wines are harvested late (Ponsot is regularly the last Domaine to harvest in the Côte de Nuits) and a strict sorting occurs so that only perfect fruit makes it to the press. Very low or no sulphur is used (including none at bottling if it can be avoided). The wines are aged slowly on lees, for up to 30 months with typically only one racking for the reds, after 12 months.