In the glass
Aroma: dark cherry, earth, spice, liquorice
Palate: black fruit, mineral, truffle, graphite
Ponsot's flagship from very old vines: powerful, savoury and long-lived, with dark fruit, earth and a mineral spine.
What it pairs with
-
Roast venison with cassis jus
Game meat and a blackcurrant reduction echo a grand-cru Pinot's wild fruit and firm tannin. -
Boeuf bourguignon
Slow-braised beef in Pinot reduction matches the wine's structure and savoury depth. -
Epoisses de Bourgogne
The washed-rind cow's-milk cheese's pungent cream needs a wine with grip and acidity to balance it.
How to serve Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast venison with cassis jus, Boeuf bourguignon, Epoisses de Bourgogne. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Vieilles Vignes Clos de la Roche, from vines partly dating to the 1920s, is Ponsot's signature and one of Morey's greatest reds.
- 1934 — First Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes
- 1990 — Domaine pioneered low-sulphur, no-new-oak elevage
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Ponsot
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir (100%)
- Classification
- Grand Cru (Morey-Saint-Denis, AOC)
- Oak
- Long ageing in older French oak, no new wood; low sulphur
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 400 to 900 at retail
- Drinking window
- 15-40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1934
Scores
- Vinous 94 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)
Frequently asked about Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
What does Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes taste like?
On the nose, dark cherry, earth, spice, liquorice. On the palate, black fruit, mineral, truffle, graphite. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Ponsot's flagship from very old vines: powerful, savoury and long-lived, with dark fruit, earth and a mineral spine.
When should I drink Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes?
Drink 15-40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes?
Roast venison with cassis jus is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Boeuf bourguignon and Epoisses de Bourgogne. Game meat and a blackcurrant reduction echo a grand-cru Pinot's wild fruit and firm tannin.
What grapes are in Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes?
The blend is Pinot Noir (100%). The wine is classified as Grand Cru (Morey-Saint-Denis, AOC).