Clos de la Roche VV, Domaine Ponsot 2019

A cool, pure and highly complex nose combines aromas of essence of plum liqueur, black cherry, violet, earth and plenty of spice components. The sense of refinement continues on the sleek, succulent and almost lacy mineral-driven and wonderfully textured medium weight flavors that deliver superb persistence on the exceptionally firm, beautifully balanced and youthfully austere finale. It's not all the time that Clos de la Roche is described as a wine of class, but in 2019, this wine has that highly desirable attribute. In a word, terrific.

Ponsot's 2019 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes was picked in multiple passages, beginning with earlier-ripening massale selections on September 17, followed by the rest of the domaine's holdings on September 22–23. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet raspberries and plums mingled with licorice, peony and cinnamon, it's full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and a long, saline finish. This is aging gracefully and underlines the additional precision Alex Abel has brought to Ponsot's winemaking in recent years.

The domaine started picking on 17th September, bringing in their Clos de la Roche on 22nd and 23rd. The grapes were sorted to remove any wrinkled skins. This wine was bottled on 8th July 2021. It shows a clear fresh vibrant crimson colour. There is some feeling of oak though as ever there are only older barrels. Red berry fruits, tightly wound, all red fruit not black, some tannins, then a growing sweetness with even a slight peach nose. Ripe and crunchy at the same time. Boysenberry, then damson, still with the marked acidity.