2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
There is enough wood to notice along with a hint of menthol on the markedly earthy red and dark berry fruit aromas where background hints of spice and floral elements are in evidence. The overtly powerful and concentrated broad-shouldered flavors display almost painful intensity before culminating in an explosively long and very firmly structured finish where once again a hint of bitter cherry appears. This is an interesting wine of contrasts as the mid-palate, even with all of its intensity, possesses a caressing palate feel yet the finish is bold, robust and unyielding. As the description confirms, this is going to require a long snooze in a cool cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Allen Meadows, Burghound
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a corker of a nose: here, a rush of raspberry and Morello cherry infused with limestone and flint aromas. The palate is stately, regal, with filigree tannin and a beguiling sense of symmetry. It bides its time in the mouth before fanning out with effortless ease. This is a fabulous, vivacious Clos de la Roche.
The 2014 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes reveals a pretty bouquet of red plums, blackberries, spring flowers and potpourri. On the palate, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with tangy acids, fine-grained but chalky tannins and a deep, concentrated core of fruit. While this has shut down, it isn't as structurally reserved as some of the top 2014s have become. It's an elegant Clos de la Roche in the making. Harvested on September 18, this was one of Ponsot's earliest harvests in recent years: the 2013 Clos de la Roche, for example, was picked on October 9. Oct 2018, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Domaine Ponsot is one of the most well-known estates in the Côte de Nuits, famed for owning three of the original four hectares of the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. The legendary domaine also produces another nine Grand Cru cuvées.