Domaine Ponsot : Clos Vougeot Grand cru "Vieilles Vignes" 2017

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Clos Vougeot Grand Cru "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 from Domaine Ponsot

Tasting

Appearance

With its deep red hue, this wine reveals brilliant ruby highlights.

Nose

The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of fresh spring flowers, notably rose and violet. These are joined by aromas of red fruits such as cherry, plum and ripe raspberry, complemented by nuances of undergrowth, earth, truffle, leather and subtle spices.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a full-bodied, structured profile, with a velvety texture and silky tannins. The fleshy, fruit-driven core offers fine concentration, carried by flavors of red cherry and plum. The acidity brings freshness and a chalky minerality, while the finish lingers powerfully with persistent mineral and tannic notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos Vougeot Grand Cru "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 pairs perfectly with roasted red meats such as beef, or feathered game birds like duck, partridge or goose. It also elegantly accompanies fine cured meats, game terrines, as well as matured Burgundy cheeses such as Époisses or Langres.

Serving and storage

The Clos Vougeot Grand Cru "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 can be enjoyed now, but will continue to evolve favorably through around 2030.

A generous, supremely elegant Burgundy grand cru

The estate

Founded in 1872 by William Ponsot in Morey-Saint-Denis, Domaine Ponsot is today one of Burgundy’s benchmark names. For five generations, the family has perpetuated exceptional expertise across around nine hectares of vines, including prestigious Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in the Côte de Nuits. Rose-Marie Ponsot currently runs the estate, assisted by Alexandre Abel as deputy director. The domaine stands out for its terroir-respectful approach, favoring sustainable viticulture and natural winemaking with minimal intervention, while also having played a pioneering role in estate bottling as early as 1934.

The vineyard

Clos Vougeot is one of the largest and most prestigious Grand Crus of the Côte de Nuits, spanning around fifty hectares shared among a multitude of owners. Founded around 1110 by the Cistercian Abbey of Cîteaux, this historic vineyard has remained enclosed within its original walls for centuries. The mention "Vieilles Vignes" indicates that this wine comes from parcels planted with vines at least thirty years old, giving the wine concentration and aromatic complexity.

The vintage

The year 2017 in Burgundy was marked by contrasting weather conditions. After a mild winter, spring brought frost episodes followed by a prolonged heatwave from mid-May to mid-August, with exceptional sunshine and periods of drought. Timely rainfall at the end of August enabled optimal ripening, yielding generous, well-balanced berries.

Winemaking and aging

The Clos Vougeot Grand Cru "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 is made in line with the estate’s philosophy of minimal intervention. After complete destemming, the grapes ferment naturally in traditional wooden vats without temperature control for around three weeks. Aging lasts sixteen to twenty-four months in used French oak barrels, with no new oak, in order to preserve the expression of the terroir. No racking is carried out during this period, except for the final one before bottling. The wine is neither fined nor filtered.

Grape variety

Pinot Noir (100%)