The 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is superb, bursting from the glass with aromas of juicy cherries, peonies, blood orange, licorice, raw cocoa and espresso roast. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and succulent, with a concentrated, layered mid-palate, satiny structuring tannins and vibrant underlying acidity, concluding with a long finish. Harvested on October 7 at a comparatively high yield by Ponsot's standards of 38 hectoliters per hectare, this year seems to have been perfectly adapted to Ponsot's style. Vibrant, elegant and expressive, the 2016 is quite different from the richer, more powerful 2015, but in the fullness of time, I wouldn't be surprised to see it surpassing its brawnier elder sibling.

Drinking Window: 2026 - 2055

Reviewer Name: William Kelley

Review Date: 31st October 2018

(14% alcohol, vs. 14.5% for the 2015 bottling; the estate owns 3.35 hectares in this grand cru, mostly in the climat Clos de la Roche): Dark red with ruby tones. Fully ripe but reticent nose combines cherry and musky soil tones, lifted by a floral topnote. Compellingly sappy, thick and deep; an utterly seamless grand cru with outstanding depth of texture and an impression of energy and power to its red and black fruit and earth flavors. Boasts uncommon thickness of fruit and purity. The wonderfully long, slowly rising, edge-free finish shows terrific energy.

Reviewer Name: Stephen Tanzer

Review Date: 1st January 2018

A very mild touch of reduction is just enough to blur the distinctions of the ripe red berry, earth and soft spice nuances and I suspect that a quick aeration would be sufficient to dissipate it. The broad-shouldered flavors possess a lovely texture thanks to the plentiful level of dry extract that enrobes the firm tannins shaping the serious and linear finish that displays excellent power and length. This is very promising.

Reviewer Name: Allen Meadows

Review Date: 10th January 2020