Ponsot Gevrey Chambertin 'Cuvee de l'Abeille' 2020
L'Abeille means honeybee. This wine comes from half a hectare in Les Epointures, a well-placed site under Clos-Prieur and near Chapelle-Chambertin. The 2020 is the first release since the vineyard was replanted following the 2012 vintage, using mass-selection cuttings at 11,000 vines per hectare. For now, only the best fruit from the site is used to make this cuvee, with the rest declassified into Ponsot's Bourgogne rouge. It is a fleshy and refined Gevrey that displays Ponsot's deep, pure-fruited (low-yield and late-picked) style. Lovely purity and class on offer here. Welcome back Cuvee de l'Abeille! Importer's notes.
'The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvee de l'Abeille marks the return to the portfolio of this replanted parcel in lieu-dit Epointures. Offering up aromas of raspberries, plums, rose petals, orange oil and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and charming, with lively acids and powdery structuring tannins. 89-91 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate.
'From Les Epointures. 4 barrels made. This is the first vintage since 2012 for this cuvee as some of the young vines were good enough. A heady bright purple. The bouquet speaks of ripe raspberry but juicy, not cooked. Very concentrated, most alluring for young vines, with a medium to long fresh finish. Very good Gevrey, probably for drinking earlier rather than later, given the youth of the vines.' 90-92 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy.