Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy

An introduction to Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy

Domaine Ponsot is the biggest landowner in the Grand Cru vineyard of Clod de la Roche, situated on the lower slopes of the Cote-d’Or to the north of the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. Their 3.5 hectare plot is managed using a combination of organic and biodynamic viticulture and the average age of the vines is 65 years. These old vines are credited for the depth and richness of the Ponsot Clos de la Roche, which displays fullness and texture on the palate, supported by persistent acidity that supports the wine long into maturity. Domaine Ponsot is arguably the greatest producer in the Clos de la Roche, crafting wines that can only be made with a century of expertise working this single vineyard.

Performance

Understanding Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy

William Ponsot first acquired land in the Clos de la Roche in the late 19th century. Since then, the domaine has gradually replanted the vineyards, with the current average age of the vines being 65 years (though some are over 90 years old). The grapes are hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard before destemming and fermentation in wooden vats with native yeasts. Élevage is conducted in twenty-year-old French oak barrels for fourteen months, and the wines are bottled without sulphur dioxide and sterile filtration to best preserve the sense of terroir. On the palate, Ponsot’s Clos de la Roche Vielles Vignes reflects the classic profile of the Grand Cru vineyard, offering rich notes of cocoa, game and wild strawberries, and a finely grained tannic structure.

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