2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
By Ponsot
2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Ponsot, Burgundy, France
The 2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes distinctly embodies the unique climatic nuances of its vintage year. The season was one of dramatic contrasts, with a hail-impacted summer, bookended by a benign spring and a redeeming sunny late harvesting period. It was these challenges that culminated in the creation of a wine with exceptional balance and depth, ensuring its allure for fine wine investors.
A Testament to Resilience and Expertise
The resilience of the old vines coupled with the adept mastery of Ponsot, led to a limited yield of intensely flavoured grapes. These factors contribute to the Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes being one of laudable structure and longevity. Even as it enters its optimal drinking window, it presents a distinguished investment opportunity due to its scarcity and Ponsot's unwavering reputation for crafting long-lived wines.
Tasting Notes: A Reflection of Terroir and Time
On the palate, the 2014 vintage offers an orchestrated symphony of ripe cherries and blackcurrants, harmonised with earthy undertones that whisper stories of its terroir. A vibrant acidity counters the richness, leading to a finish as lengthy as the vines' storied past. This tasting experience is illustrative of a thoughtful wine, one that has been shaped as much by weather as by winemaking philosophy.
The refined elegance and complexity of the Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes, paired with its illustrious pedigree from Ponsot, make it an irresistible proposition for collectors seeking to diversify their portfolio with a wine that speaks volumes of its provenance.
In Summary: An Investment Beyond Time
The 2014 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru from Ponsot stands as an exemplar within the pantheon of great Burgundies. Its well-articulated expression of an unpredictable growing season elevates it amongst its peers, underscoring the wisdom in investing not only in wine but in the narrative each bottle encapsulates – a narrative richly woven into this spectacular vintage.
Current market price
£4,050.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
270
Scores and tasting notes
The 2014 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée 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.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 31 October 2018