Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2021, 2017, 2011, 2007, 2006 & 2002.

Domaine Ponsot is eponymous with the commune of Morey-Saint-Denis, where the domaine is the largest owner of Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (3.5 ha) along with heritage monopoly of Clos de Monts Luisants 1er. Though founded way back in 1872, modern drinkers are likely to have gained acquaintance with its wines from the 1980s onwards where the prolific Laurent Ponsot was responsible for a very long stretch between 1981 and 2015. Alexandre Abel has been brought in to manage the winemaking since 2017. Even though he had worked previously in USA, Chile, Australia and New Zealand, Alex has wisely followed tradition back in Domaine Ponsot, using only old barrels to enhance the purity of fruit without the influence of new oak. When Alex dropped in to Singapore, Alice of Wine Clique pulled together a two-decade vertical of the domaine’s Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes at Hua Ting restaurant on 05 December 2025. This plot lies within that virtually unbroken longitudinal stretch of Route des Grand Crus starting with Chambertin-Clos de Bèze at the top, followed southwards by Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, then a curious hollow in the land where Aux Combottes is relegated to 1er before it’s grand cru again at Morey-Saint-Denis with Clos de la Roche, Clos-Saint-Denis, Clos des Lambrays, Clos de Tart and, finally, Bonnes-Mares. Tasting through the vertical, it is reassuring to note that the style of Ponsot’s Clos de la Roche has remained consistent under the care of Alex, possessing a certain robust tensile verve with a balanced minerality that rewards the patience of ageing, as demonstrated by the supreme 2002. Many thanks, Alice!

2020 Maison Ponsot Saint-Romain Blanc Cuvée de la Mesange. Pale greenish. Gentle aromas of créme and clear citrus with further notes of orchard and dense tropical fruit. Medium presence, displaying excellent clarity and linearity with a subtle focus of pears and glacial detail. Refreshing and highly integral, matched by refined acidity. Modest finish.

2021 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Very lovely and assured on the nose where raspberries and dark cherries dominate with some ripe pebbly warmth, boasting a concentrated presence of fruit on the palate cushioned by supple tannins. Highly integral and linear with an undertow of earthy minerals tinged with brilliant graphite, yielding subtle sophistication. From a challenging vintage where production was only a quarter of usual. Highly promising.

2017 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Deep purple. Some reduction is evident amid its dark plummy demeanour. Medium-full, structured with pliant tannins that yield supple detail of haw, red fruits and ferrous elements in equal measure underpinned by slick acidity, exuding a glowing ripe warmth. Modest finish. Drinking very well now. Alex’s first vintage for Ponsot.

2011 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Still darkish in appearance, matching the darkish hues of black berries and traces of cinnamon with a little funky herbal tinge. Quite generously endowed, structured with firm tannins underscored by ferrous elements that impart tensile verve with undertones of pochai, supported by a high-toned acidity. Surprisingly tight, weighty and masculine for the vintage.

2007 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Evolved crimson, proffering an alluring fragrance of haw and ripe plums to match the fleshy layers of fruit with very well-integrated subtle minerality. Highly elegant and floral, though it developed a greater tensile presence over time, delivering fine energy that made up for its modest finish.

2006 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Classic pinot tint, exuding rosy hues with overtones of haw and cinnamon. Still fullish, imbued with striking acidity that impart lovely tension and linearity amid layers of red plums and apples. Modest finish.

2002 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. Displaying a clear brownish-red, this wine stands head and shoulders above the preceding ones, boasting abundant ripe dark berries and currants superbly integrated with refined graphite minerals and sublime acidity that fill the medium-full palate with quiet verve in spite of its generous proportions, gleaming with seamless layers of vibrant detail throughout its lovely length. At its absolute peak and will continue to hold. A brilliant example of this outstanding vintage.