Limited Edition 3-Pack from Champagne Ponson
3/30/26 -
When it comes to winemaking techniques, there are countless choices during the process that affect the way the wine ends up tasting. For us consumers (and wine nerds) those decisions affect us, but we don't necessarily get to understand how that truly translates in the final wine. Since most winemakers tend to stick to a particular style, we can't always tell the true affect of some winemaking decisions, and although they often experiment, they don't normally leave the winery. But today, that changes thanks to Max Ponson! If you've been with us for a while, you will recognize Champagne Ponson as a shop favorite, we almost always have their 1er Cru bottling in the fridge and on our shelves. Today, we're highlighting a Blanc de Blancs of Chardonnay from the 2018 vintage from the lieu-dit of Barbaries. Immediately after pressing, Max separated the juice into three separate vessels: neutral oak barrel, stainless steel tank, and a porcelain amphora custom made in Limoges. All other winemaking has been consistent across the three bottlings, allowing the fermentation vessel to shine through.
After tasting through these myself, I think the best way to enjoy these is to find a few friends and open all three bottles together. This can be both a fun educational experiment, but at the end of the day they are also just delicious Champagnes!
From these three different vessels you can expect some of the following: Stainless steel helps preserve those bright, fresh fruit flavors, along with a more crisp, vibrant finish. Oak barrels provide some oxidation for the wine as well as impart flavor such as toasty brioche notes, and in the case of newer oak some vanilla. Porcelain lives in between the two providing the minor amounts of oxidation that oak provides while not imparting any flavor. It tends to add texture and can retain fruit purity. But the best way to learn about these different fermentation vessels is to pop the corks on these incredible bottles. I must note how limited we are on quantities here and that this is the only time that Max has done something like this, so grab a 3-pack (or two) while you can!
-Hanna Krilov Cohen
Ponson 3-pack is sold out - sorry!
