2001 Domaine Ponsot, Clos de la Roche, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Grand Cru Red Burgundy, France.
During La Paulee Week in San Francisco people were pulling out all the stops to celebrate Burgundy, and I was lucky enough to be a sounding board for a client that wanted to impress a few friends and wasn’t convinced he picked the right wine from his cellar, and so I got to sample and review a very special wine, this Ponsot Clos de la Roche, one of my all time favorite vineyards, what a treat, Shane, I’m very grateful! I could easily imagine his concern, at first the 2001 Ponsot was tight with reduction and powerful acidity, along with a tight fist of dusty tannins, but with patience and gentile swirls an inner beauty developed and a glimpse of greatness, the magic happened as this wonderful wine opened up. The revealing of violets, wild plum and black cherry was amazing, over shadowing the meaty and graphite elements allowing this Clos de la Roche to flow, and while intense and gripping it shows fine detail with mature notes just starting to emerge, this is still a young wine, though it is light in alcohol and body for the vintage and it has the finest of orange tint starting to peak out on the edges in what is a nice ruby hue at the core. It’s hard not to go on and on here, but this medium weighted Grand Cru is seductive, transparent and very true to it’s nature and terroir, it is full of layers and with plenty of air offers everything you could want of a fine Burgundy and the length is stunning and racy/sexy. The palate delivers cherry, plum, black raspberry over and over and dried rose petals, red tea spice and lovely mineral tones, I loved every second of this Ponsot, it’s a treasure, and while it may not have the extract to go another 20 years, I think it should be hitting it’s best spot and perfect window between 2018 and 2028. I don’t get to try many Ponsot’s, so this was a glorious thrill ride, and I hope to see a few more!
($275+ Est.) 93-95 Points, grapelive
