2018 Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, Morey-Satin-Denis, France (magnum)

From 3.2 hectares of Clos de la Roche, with vines averaging 65 years old, rooted in lean clay and limestone over a hard limestone base. Domaine Ponsot’s Cuvée Vieilles Vignes marries the Grand Cru’s natural power and depth with remarkable elegance, freshness, and exceptionally silky tannins. Fully destemmed, naturally fermented and aged for 18 months in seasoned French oak, the wine preserves a pure expression of vineyard and vintage.

98 points, La Revue Du Vin De France
“A Clos de la Roche of tremendous scale, remarkably complete, with impressive breadth and stature, its tannic structure enveloped in abundant velvety texture. Built for a very long life. (Un clos-de-la roche de très grande envergure, très complet, tout en ampleur et carrure, sa structure tannique enrobée par un velouté abondant. Très grande garde prévisible.)”

97 points, Burghound
“A brooding and almost grumpy nose only grudgingly gives up its aromas of poached plum, warm earth, smoked game and once again, plenty of spice nuances. The velvety and opulent big-bodied flavors brim with an abundance of dry extract that imparts a seductive mid-palate mouth but also serves to buffer the remarkably firm tannic spine shaping the powerful and hugely long finish where the only nit is a suggestion of warmth. This is a fantastic but seriously imposing wine with the structure to match so this is one to buy and forget you own it. In a word, brilliant.”

95+ points, Wine Advocate
“Ponsot’s 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes was only bottled in July 2020, and its extended élevage has really refined the wine. Opening in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and plums mingled with dark chocolate, preserved citrus peel, woodsmoke and spices, it’s full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, with real depth and mid-palate amplitude, its rich, powdery tannins largely concealed in a generous core of fruit. This is a muscular wine somewhat reminiscent of a more gourmand version of the domaine’s 2005, and it will demand patience.”

• France – Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy • Domaine Ponsot is a Burgundy icon, producing collectible Grand Cru Pinot Noirs of purity and longevity. Founded in 1872, Domaine Ponsot is one of Burgundy’s legendary estates, celebrated for its uncompromising philosophy and exceptional holdings in Morey-Saint-Denis and beyond. Laurent Ponsot led the domaine for decades, pioneering both quality practices and anti-fraud innovations in the fine wine world. The estate’s portfolio includes iconic Grand Crus such as Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, and Chapelle-Chambertin. The wines are known for their purity, transparency, and capacity to age, often made with minimal intervention and a focus on whole-cluster fermentation. They balance richness with a lifted, aromatic quality that reflects both site and vintage. Morey-Saint-Denis lies between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, and Ponsot’s wines embody this middle ground: structured yet elegant, powerful yet perfumed. The domaine’s Grand and Premier Crus stand among the most collectible in Burgundy.