2023 Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, Morey-Saint-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.

96 points, Decanter
"This preview of the 2023 Clos de la Roche at Ponsot shows a wine of intensity and elegance, with ripe blackberry fruit, hints of violets and a savoury, salty mineral note. At this point, the wine is still closed and not displaying its richness, but a dynamic freshness and vivacity carry it to an impressive finish. Although a more difficult vintage than 2022, the wine shows transparency and clarity of fruit. For best results, wait at least five years before opening."

96 points, Tim Atkin MW
"Ponsot is by far the largest landowner of Clos de la Roche with a whopping 3.35 ha in three big blocks, and all are included here this vintage. The color is impressively dark, even with a hint of russet coming through. Spice drawer and toast slowly eke from the glass. The palate tags on blackberry coulis, underbrush and fireplace embers. The structure is imposing but artfully crafted with everything nicely aligned. Grainy tannins link with high-toned acidity and seemingly stretch the reserved flavors into an eternal finish. This needs at least seven to eight years."

94-96 points, Vinous
"Quite engaging and mercurial, the 2023 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very impressive bouquet: hints of gingerbread and fig underscore orange rind-laced dark berry fruit and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied and quite persistent in the mouth, with insistent grip and a structured finish. This will require time in bottle but it should turn into an impressive Clos de la Roche."

• 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.