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Domaine Ponsot Grand Cru Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes 2021

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Domaine Ponsot Grand Cru Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes 2021
Producer Domaine Ponsot
Region, Country Morey-St-Denis, France
Bottle Size 750ml
Case Size 12
Product Code 23650-750

This is, without any doubt, Domaine Ponsot’s top wine and one of the finest wines of the Côte de Nuits. The terroir largely explains why. Domaine Ponsot is famously the largest landowner in Clos de la Roche, perfectly situated almost entirely within the historic clos and with some of the oldest vines (averaging approximately 65 years of age).

Clos de la Roche was expanded in the 1950s to include a range of neighbouring sites (Les Fremières, Les Genevrières, Les Mochamps, Monts Luisants, etc.) surrounding the original vineyard. As you might expect, the original terroir (widely considered the finest part of the Clos de la Roche appellation) makes different wines from the surrounding sites now included in the AOC. Domaine Ponsot owns almost three hectares of this original 4.5-hectare clos. The rest of Ponsot’s holdings are within the Monts Luisants lieu-dit (which has always been bottled and sold as Clos de la Roche as it has the same soil, though it sits higher on the slope). The grapes from Monts Luisants add freshness to the natural power of the fruit from the original clos.

Terroir aside, this wine is the reference point for the AOC. To us, it is not only Ponsot’s grandest wine but also one of the greatest reds in Burgundy. Exactly how much of the quality relates to terroir and how much to vine age, plant material and farming quality is impossible to separate, yet all these factors come together to create something truly remarkable. 

Domaine Ponsot Grand Cru Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes 2021

Reviews

“The 2021 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has exquisite delineation and focus on the nose, almost pixelated, very transparent yet with ample, vivacious red fruit that gains intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, nicely structured with a touch of sinew on the finish. Not the most precise Clos de la Roche from Ponsot in recent years, but very capable and with the density to suggest it will age long-term”
94-96 points, Neal Martin, Vinous
“The combined vines from the historic clos (two-thirds) and the Monts Luisants sector (one-third) produced a meager 8 hl/ha. The aromas are high-toned with red currants and cranberries and blanketed with tea leaves and savory spice. The zippy acidity does the heavy structural lifting as the fine tannins hover on the sidelines. Supremely elegant.”
96 points, Christy Canterbury MW, Tim Atkin Burgundy Special Report
“Ponsot's 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, plums, exotic spices, candied peel, raw cocoa and forest floor. Full-bodied, broad and textural, it's concentrated and multidimensional, with a suave, supple, seamless profile and a long, saline finish.”
93-95 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
“Another fine deep imperial purple, with an additional glossiness over and above the Morey Alouettes. This bears all the hallmarks of a fine Clos de la Roche, enough fruit and perfect ripeness, just enough acidity, greater persistence with a few tannins to provide the structure. This will stand up extremely well in the future. Fine persistence.”
94-96 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy

Reviews

“The 2021 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has exquisite delineation and focus on the nose, almost pixelated, very transparent yet with ample, vivacious red fruit that gains intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, nicely structured with a touch of sinew on the finish. Not the most precise Clos de la Roche from Ponsot in recent years, but very capable and with the density to suggest it will age long-term”
94-96 points, Neal Martin, Vinous
“The combined vines from the historic clos (two-thirds) and the Monts Luisants sector (one-third) produced a meager 8 hl/ha. The aromas are high-toned with red currants and cranberries and blanketed with tea leaves and savory spice. The zippy acidity does the heavy structural lifting as the fine tannins hover on the sidelines. Supremely elegant.”
96 points, Christy Canterbury MW, Tim Atkin Burgundy Special Report
“Ponsot's 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, plums, exotic spices, candied peel, raw cocoa and forest floor. Full-bodied, broad and textural, it's concentrated and multidimensional, with a suave, supple, seamless profile and a long, saline finish.”
93-95 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
“Another fine deep imperial purple, with an additional glossiness over and above the Morey Alouettes. This bears all the hallmarks of a fine Clos de la Roche, enough fruit and perfect ripeness, just enough acidity, greater persistence with a few tannins to provide the structure. This will stand up extremely well in the future. Fine persistence.”
94-96 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy

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