Since its founding in Chamery by Grégoire Bonnet in 1862, Bonnet-Ponson has been held in family hands for six generations. The marriage of 4th generation André Bonnet to Monique Ponson in 1957 resulted in the birth of the Bonnet-Ponson estate. Monique was the granddaughter of a grape grower in the village of Vrigny, and the couple would grow the estate across Chamery, Meunier sur Vrigny, and Coulommes-la-Montagne. The estate would grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier, and underground chambers were dug to age their Champagne. Their son, Thierry, would expand the estate, building new wineries, and adding vineyards. Thierry’s son, the 6th generation Cyril Bonnet, would earn a degree in oenology and eventually join the family business in 2013, when he would move the estate to organic and less sulfite in vinification. Cyril has become a rising star in the world of Champagne.
The Cuvée Perpetuelle (non-vintage, though this vintage is primarily the 2015) is created from a selection of 35 vine plots from across Chamery, Vrigny and Coulommes-la-Montagne, all with 1er Cru classification. The average age of the vines is 35 years old. The wine is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay, apparently including 40% of reserve wines from their solera. Not sure how that’s done with the kosher, though. Aged 9 months on lees and 4 years in bottle before release.
Beautiful glass with focused, tight bubble chain. Aromatic nose of tart green apple, lemon, white peach, nuttiness: raw almond, hazelnut. Complex. Good body, waves of acid balanced by fresh fruit. Wonderfully dry. What a treat!
Here’s an example of value in kosher. As far as I can tell, the non-kosher Bonnet-Ponson sells for the same price as the kosher at $60. That, coupled with the fact that top-end Champagne for $60 is already a bargain, gives you quite the deal. But this is not Champagne for aging owing to its very low dosage. Extra Brut Champagne, according to EU regulations, allows between 0-6 g/sugar per liter. I believe this wine utilizes 3 g/s per L, and thus does have the required residual sugar for long term aging. I, for one, love this style.
Drink now to 2026.
$60 (as part of a six-pack case), 12% ABV, non-mevushal
Exclusively sold at The Cellar Lakewood.
Kosher Food and Drink 
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