Champagne Pascal Ponson Prestige Tradition Brut, Champagne NV

Champagne Ponson NV 'Prestige Tradition' Brut, Champagne, France

• Winemaker: Maxime Ponson
• Varieties:  80% Pinot Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay
• Farming: Organic certified, Biodynamic Practicing.
• Terroir: La Petite Montagne, a sub-section of Champagne’s Montagne de Reims, located east and southeast of Reims, the region’s capital. The Ponson vineyards are scattered between seven different communes and only on Premier Cru (1er Cru) sites. All maintain an east, southeast or south exposition and the climate is continental: freezing winters, dry and warm summer days and cool summer nights. This a blend of parcels from on top of the plateau, mid-slope and lower slope.
• Vinification: The grapes are whole cluster pressed in a traditional Coquard basket press. Some years the cuvée (the first press juice that comes after the discarded initial one hundred liters of free run juice) may go straight to tank for fermentation without any overnight settling. This depends on the quality of the fruit. Alcoholic fermentation lasts between ten days and two months and Maxime limits the maximum temperatures to around 16°-18°C. Aside from temperature control, he believes that systematic enology will more or less make the wines the same from year to year and likely kill the personality of the wine. Malolactic fermentation happens sometimes but is not encouraged.
  
  
• Aging: Aged in stainless steel and concrete. Aging time before bottling varies, but on average 3.5 years before disgorgement. 35% of the wine is reserve wines beyond the base vintage wine.
• Dosage: 6g/L