2008 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru
By Ponsot
2008 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot, Burgundy, France
In the variegated tapestry of Burgundian vintages, the 2008 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot emerges as a testament to the region's intricate dance with nature and terroir. The vintage of 2008 held its breath under a shroud of challenges—testing the mettle of both vine and vintner—only to transcend expectations with a surprising allure distinctly expressed in this Grand Cru.
Resilience Rendered Artfully in a Bottle
The journey of the 2008 vintage was fraught with trials—from a cool spring marked by late frost to an unpromising summer that begrudgingly conceded to an eleventh-hour rescue by September's grace. It is through such climatic caprices that mastery is unveiled; Ponsot's expert touch has coaxed forth a specimen that sings of resilience rendered artfully in a bottle. As we invest our senses into this wine, it offers up a poignant chronicle of its birth year.
A Vintage Stands Distinct
To imbibe the 2008 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot is to partake in an experience punctuated by elegance and complexity. The vintage proffers an olfactory canvas streaked with scents of spiced cherry and damp earth—an intricately woven perfume that beckons the palate. On tasting, one is greeted by the firm yet supple tannins characteristic of cooler years, cradling flavours of dense forest fruit compote edged with nuances of truffle and licorice that hint at the underlying strength of this storied terroir.
With each passing year, the depth and articulation on the palate evolve, promising returns for those who patient aesthetics align with the virtues of wine investment. The sophisticated structure juxtaposed against a backlit canvas of bright acidity ensures the longevity of this Griotte Chambertin—a cornerstone for connoisseurs and investors alike.
An Ode to Tenacity
In essence, the 2008 Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru from Ponsot emerges not merely as a beverage but as an ode to tenacity, encapsulating a narrative where harmony triumphs amidst adversity. It belongs decidedly amongst the pantheon of investments for both its sensory rewards and its emblematic representation of Burgundian might in an unyielding year.
Market price (HKD)
HK$42,150.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
400.91
Scores and tasting notes
The 2008 Griotte-Chambertin is a huge, super ripe wine loaded with dark fruit, earthiness and tobacco. This shows notable intensity but not quite the pedigree or refinement that is the hallmark of Ponsot. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. This set of 2009s from Laurent Ponsot was among the finest I tasted. The wines are simply dazzling from top to bottom. Ponsot was among the last to harvest in 2009, essentially starting when most, if not all, of his colleagues already had the fruit in their cellars. The fruit was 100% destemmed and the wines were vinified in oak vats. The wines were then racked into barrel for the malos, where many of them stayed with no further rackings. There is no new oak at Ponsot. The barrels range from 5 to 50 years of age. The range now includes a head spinning eleven Grand Crus, which now total an astonishing 70% of the estate’s total production. Ordinarily I would suggest cellaring the top 2009s for a minimum of 15 years or so, but now that Ponsot is bottling all of his wines with synthetic plastic corks made in Italy it is hard to know exactly how the wines will develop. I tasted all of the 2009s from barrel, where they had been aging since finishing their malolactic fermentations. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 1 May 2011