2017 Domaine Ponsot Grand Cru Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes

• Producer: Domaine Ponsot
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Region: Burgundy
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Net volume: 750ml
• Vintage: 2017
• Cellar until 2040

This is, without any doubt, Domaine Ponsot’s top wine and one of the absolute elite wines of the Côte de Nuits. The terroir itself largely explains why. Domaine Ponsot is famously the largest landowner in Clos de la Roche, perfectly situated (almost entirely within the historic Clos itself) and with some of the oldest vines (averaging approximately 60 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.) which surround the original vineyard or Clos. The original terroir makes strikingly different wines to the surrounding sites now included in the AOC. Ponsot own almost three hectares of the original 4.5-hectare Clos (widely considered to be the finest part of the Clos de la Roche AOC). The rest of Ponsot’s holdings are within the Monts Luisants lieu-dit (always bottled and sold as Clos de la Roche—it has the same soil but is higher on the slope).

This is Ponsot's first among equals. The Domaine is the largest landowner in the Clos de la Roche with perfectly situated vines (almost all within the Clos itself) and some of the oldest vines (average age approximately 60 years). Clos de la Roche was expanded in the 50s to include a range of neighbouring sites (Les Fremieres, Genevrières, Mochamps, Monts Luisants, etc.) that surround the original vineyard or 'lieu-dit' - Clos de la Roche. It is therefore important to understand that of Ponsot's 3.4 hectares, 3 are within the original 4 hectare Clos de la Roche itself! That is, Ponsot's holdings represent ¾ of the original vineyard, which is widely considered to be the finest part of the Clos de la Roche AOC, rightly or wrongly. It is certainly it's own terroir! It is also certain that the reputation of this AOC has relied heavily on the wines of Domaine Ponsot. How much of this quality is related to terroir and how much to the age and quality of Ponsot's vines as well as the quality of his farming and winemaking is impossible to know. It is often hard, in Burgundy, to separate the quality of the grower from the quality of the terroir. Or at least the lines are blurred. The rest of Ponsot's holdings are within the Monts Luisants lieu dit that was always bottled and sold as Clos de la Roche (it has the same soil). Terroir aside, this wine is clearly the reference for the AOC. To us, it is not only Ponsot's grandest wine, but also one of the greatest red wines in Burgundy. The price needs to be viewed in this context. As the note below makes clear, this is absolutely superb and will make a dramatic bottle for decades to come."An overtly floral-suffused nose, and in particular violet and lilac, adds a touch of elegance to the liqueur-like red cherry, plum and dark currant scents. The exceptionally rich and full-bodied flavors possess an outstanding level of dry extract that imparts a highly seductive texture to the mid-palate.

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