2009 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
By Ponsot
2009 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Ponsot, Burgundy, France
The 2009 vintage in Burgundy was one that rewarded the patient vintner with a rich tapestry of weather, leading to wines of compelling complexity and vigour. Particularly, the 2009 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Ponsot stands conspicuously amongst its peers, demanding recognition for its inimitable expression this fortuitous year.
Distinctive Vintage, Distinctive Wine
The esteemed Ponsot estate, deeply rooted in the soils of Cote de Nuits, has extrapolated the essence of Clos de la Roche terrain into their 2009 Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru. This wine encapsulates the balance between power and elegance - the hallmark of a superb Burgundian Pinot Noir. The 2009 iteration exudes a generous bouquet resonating with ripe cherries and blackberries interwoven with whispered hints of truffle and earth.
A Harvest That Defied Expectations
In 2009, Burgundy experienced a serene harmony of sunny days and cool nights during the pivotal growing season, which culminated in a harvest that exceeded expectations. The meticulous harvesting techniques of Ponsot ensured that each bunch from their old vines reached the vat at optimal ripeness. As with any remarkable vintage, the sense of place is ever-present; you grasp a fistful of Clos de la Roche's terroir with each sip of this extraordinary vintage.
The palate reveals layers upon layers of lush fruit, heady spices, and silken tannins – a masterstroke delivered by this venerable producer. Underlying this immediate charm is an ironclad structure, suggesting an auspicious future for investors considering this wine for their portfolios.
To those savouring today or those envisioning the long-term allure of cellar-bound treasures—the 2009 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Ponsot embodies investment-calibre artistry. The attention to detail in its creation and the undisputed generosity of the vintage coalesce to form an exemplar specimen from one of Burgundy's most revered Grand Crus.
Market price (USD)
$7,310.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
399.33
Scores and tasting notes
The 2009 Clos de la Roche Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is round, sweet and totally enveloping. It is a huge, towering Burgundy that impresses for its gorgeous inner perfume and juicy, exuberant fruit. This shows tons of richness without being heavy or overripe in any way. Anticipated maturity: 2029-2049. This set of 2009s from Laurent Ponsot was among the finest I tasted. The wines are simply dazzling from top to bottom. Ponsot was among the last to harvest in 2009, essentially starting when most, if not all, of his colleagues already had the fruit in their cellars. The fruit was 100% destemmed and the wines were vinified in oak vats. The wines were then racked into barrel for the malos, where many of them stayed with no further rackings. There is no new oak at Ponsot. The barrels range from 5 to 50 years of age. The range now includes a head spinning eleven Grand Crus, which now total an astonishing 70% of the estate’s total production. Ordinarily I would suggest cellaring the top 2009s for a minimum of 15 years or so, but now that Ponsot is bottling all of his wines with synthetic plastic corks made in Italy it is hard to know exactly how the wines will develop. I tasted all of the 2009s from barrel, where they had been aging since finishing their malolactic fermentations. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 1 May 2011