The Ponson family has made wine and farmed vineyards in the Montagne de Reims for five generations now, but it is this current generation that is primed to change the fortunes of this small family house for good. It started during Maxime’s apprenticeship with his father, as he stubbornly pestered Pascal every chance he got about the opportunities that would come if they transitioned over to organic, and eventually biodynamic farming. Pascal was old school, and unwilling to accept the risk, only yielding at the very last to allow Maxime one single parcel to farm as he wished. The quality of the fruit was a revelation, and now, years later, the entirety of their holdings are farmed using both organic and biodynamic principles. The Ponson brothers go a step further – continuing with natural practices in the cellar – all native yeast, naturally-occurring fermentations, no fining or filtering, and never intervening, to either encourage or prevent malo-lactic fermentation in their wines. Their only addition is a scant dose of sulfur when necessary, and only right after the fruit is harvested in that case.

Their holdings amount to 13+ hectares, spread across the Petite Montagne sub-region of the Montagne de Reims, with the majority of their vineyards in Vrigny, Coulommes-la-Montagne, Pargny-lès-Reims, Jouy-lès-Reims, Ville-Dommange, Sacy, and Ecueil. The planting mix is dominated by some 70% pinot meunier, with the remaining 30% spread amongst equal parts pinot noir & chardonnay. We’ve now tasted a number of the Ponson wines and can say without hesitation – these two brothers have conquered an accelerated learning curve and have graduated to become one of our wineries to watch in Champagne. This particular wine is simply stellar, and we pulled a deal to get this in your hands at the absolute best price in the USA!

This blend follows the same make-up of grapes as their holdings, and the region's mash-up of chalk, limestone, clay, and sand provide the components that make this one of the more complex, under $50 Champagnes we have tasted in quite some time! Beautiful aromas of lemon zest and lime leaf, with acacia and honeysuckle to get things started, followed closely by flavors of bright green apple, toasty brioche, and nutty Marcona almond. The mouthfeel is mineral and zippy, with a perfect hint of weighty richness. The wine finishes clean and flinty and sets your glands to full salivation in anticipation of that next sip. This is a fantastic aperitif, but one with enough complexity to stand alone too. We have the lion’s share of everything that made it to the USA, and at the best price anywhere – you’d do well to snag a six-pack of these ultra-fine Champagnes.