Domaine Ponsot : Clos de la Roche Grand cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for Clos de la Roche Grand cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" 2018 from Domaine Ponsot

Tasting

Nose

The nose initially feels restrained and calls for patience to open up. It gradually reveals aromas of poached plum, warm earth, smoked game and a range of spices. With aeration, notes of dark fruits, cherries, dark chocolate, candied citrus peel, wood smoke and complex spices unfold. A floral hint of violet adds an extra touch of refinement.

Palate

The palate is powerful and concentrated, with a remarkably firm tannic structure that forms a true backbone. The wine offers a silky texture and a fruity sweetness, balanced by fine acidity and this imposing tannic framework. The dry extract brings seduction through the mid-palate while supporting the overall structure. The finish is exceptionally long, persistent and balanced, reflecting the complexity and considerable aging potential of this grand cru.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de la Roche Grand cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" 2018 pairs perfectly with full-flavored meats. It goes beautifully with duck breast with cherries, lamb prepared in various ways, or a wild boar stew with Cognac. Its powerful structure and spicy notes harmonize ideally with rich dishes and game.

Serving and cellaring

This Clos de la Roche Grand cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" 2018 absolutely requires patience. It is not recommended to drink it in its youth. Decanting is advised to allow the wine to open up. The optimal drinking window extends from around 2028 to 2068, with a recommendation to wait at least twenty years before opening it to fully enjoy its potential.

An iconic Burgundy grand cru from very old vines

The estate

Founded in 1872 by William Ponsot in Morey-Saint-Denis, Domaine Ponsot is one of Burgundy’s most prestigious producers. Now run by Rose-Marie Ponsot with technical support from Alexandre Abel, the estate farms around eight hectares of vines, including an exceptional concentration of grand cru plots representing nearly 79% of total production. The domaine stands out for its traditional, terroir-respecting approach, keeping interventions and inputs to an absolute minimum. Five generations have succeeded one another at the head of this family property, perpetuating a philosophy of natural winemaking and transparent expression of Burgundy terroirs.

The vineyard

Clos de la Roche is the largest grand cru in Morey-Saint-Denis, covering about 16.90 hectares. Domaine Ponsot owns 3.5 hectares, making it the leading owner in this prestigious appellation. The Vieilles Vignes cuvée comes from vines averaging over sixty years of age, spread across two distinct plots: about two-thirds of the grapes come from the original Clos de la Roche parcels, while one-third comes from vines located at the foot of the slope in Clos des Monts-Luisants. The soils are composed of marls with limestone scree, providing optimal drainage. Planting density reaches around 10,000 vines per hectare, encouraging fruit concentration.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy was marked by warm, sunny conditions throughout the growing season. Flowering and véraison occurred earlier than usual. Harvest at Domaine Ponsot began on September 5 and took place under optimal ripeness conditions. The summer’s high temperatures allowed for excellent phenolic maturity. This sunny, generous vintage produced concentrated, powerful wines with high potential alcohol levels. Producers who maintained relatively late picking dates generally obtained fresher, more nuanced wines with better balance.

Vinification and aging

Clos de la Roche Grand cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" 2018 is vinified according to the estate’s philosophy of minimal intervention. Harvesting is done by hand, with rigorous selection directly in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place in oak vats for about two to three weeks, using indigenous yeasts. The domaine adapts its techniques to each vintage with no rigid protocol. Aging took place exclusively in old barrels, as the estate never uses new oak in order to preserve the pure expression of the terroir. The newest barrels are at least five years old, with most being much older. Aging lasted about eighteen months, with bottling carried out in July 2020. No fining or filtration is performed.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir