2019 Domaine Ponsot Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvee des Alouettes [D93][WA91-93][BH90-92]

Producer: Domaine Ponsot 
Region: Morey-Saint-Denis, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France  
Varietal: Pinot Noir  
Year: 2019 

Decanter, 93 Points 

"Produced from 1.29ha of Monts Luisants in the premier cru section, 20-30m lower than the vines that make the Cuvée des Grives and just above the part classed as Clos de la Roche. Here, there is more of a mix between red and black fruit (enlivened with just a bit of CO2 left at bottling from the fermentation), and also more density and richness on the palate, plus just a bit more length. Drinking Window 2024 - 2039." 

Wine Advocate, 91-93 Points 

"The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée des Alouettes opens in the glass with notes of plums, cherries, raw cocoa, cinnamon and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy, it's layered and elegantly gourmand, with lively acids and a precise, mineral finish. As usual, this hails entirely from the Clos de Monts Luisants, but the domaine opts not to mention the lieu-dit on the label to avoid confusion with their emblematic white wine from the same vineyard. Domaine Ponsot started picking on September 20, and winemaker Alexandre Abel reported yields some 35% to 40% below average, with alcohols in the 14s and healthy pHs at around 3.3. Yet while alcohols in 2019 were if anything higher than in 2018, the 2019 wines are more elegant, with livelier fruit tones and less overtly muscular structure. That's not a criticism of the 2018s, however, which we revisited from bottle, confirming that they are wines that will require patience: interestingly, the most put-together of the range was the Clos de la Roche, a cuvée that was bottled last, in July 2020, and which certainly seemed to have profited from the longer élevage." 

Burghound, 90-92 Points 

"A slightly riper but still quite fresh nose speaks of red and dark cherry, anise, violet and a similar whiff of earth. There is better volume and punch to the intense and focused middle weight plus flavors that possess a more refined mouthfeel on the strikingly refreshing finale where a subtle touch of austerity gradually emerges. This firm effort will need at least some patience." 

Alcohol: 13.5% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.