2005 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru "Vieilles Vignes"

“(racked three days before my visit) Full ruby-red. Knockout nose melds black cherry, violet, licorice and brown spices; this is wild yet aristocratic in a Chambertin way. Densely packed, silky and incredibly intense, with palate-saturating flavors of black cherry, spices, minerals and bitter chocolate. As remarkably rich as this is (it's carrying 15% alcohol, according to Ponsot), there's no impression of undue weight. This is old-vines Clos de la Roche in all its savage splendor. Endless finish. Should make a cellar treasure. (ST)” (03/2007)

“The estate’s flagship 2005 Clos de la Roche Cuvee Vieilles Vignes surges from the glass in an aromatic tidal wave of liqueur-like black raspberry essence, cinnamon spice, praline, chocolate and heady floral sweetness. Incontrovertibly fat and full, not about clarity or discretion but rather about thick, sumptuous layers of flavor that blanket the palate, this will not be every taster’s idea of a great Burgundy -- or perhaps even a good time. Still, there is lift, bright juiciness and a sense of emerging elegance in a finish where sheer intensity and unabashed richness rule but neither the fruit nor tannins are the least bit coarse, and stony, chalky underpinnings break the surface with their own sort of austere beauty. (DS)” (04/2007)

“This beauty had not come my way since I first reviewed it from bottle in 2008 and it continues to shine beautifully. There is some secondary development lurking in the background of the wonderfully spicy aromas of both red and dark currant, violet, game and newly turned earth. The dense, powerful and sappy flavors are still blessed with seemingly endless reserves of dry extract while the supporting tannins, while certainly present, are no longer so prominent as to render the strikingly long finish unduly compact or too tightly wound. While this should continue to age effortlessly for years to come, it's not so far away that it couldn't be enjoyed now. A seriously lovely Clos de la Roche.” (11/2022)

“The 2005 is still showing a surprisingly deep colour, although the bouquet is beginning to open now. There are notes of black cherry accented with orange peel and a faint suggestion of earthy forest floor aromas, making it among the most open and accessible 2005s that I have tasted recently. The aromas are developed but not alarmingly, and there is plenty of room for future cellaring. The texture is silky and there's no astringency, but the wine has a refreshing acidity that helps keep it lively on the extended finish. Impressive. (CC)” (05/2022)

“A sound and solid red, the bouquet is beginning to take on a delicious savoury quality, little raspberry notes, some leathery aspects from the tannins of the vintage. There is high acidity still, along with the tannins, yet the fruit remains supremely youthful. Some zest of orange, still much too young, and though not as difficult as 1976 would have been at the same stage, one can draw parallels. I think this could develop in the glass over an hour or two but will not have the chance. In fact, already after five minutes the leathery aspects are disappearing as the fruit becomes more sensual. The persistence of the aftertaste is most impressive. There is still a huge amount to give.” (05/2022)

“The 2005 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes looks like a second coming of the 1980 vintage of this wine, as it seems quite certain to mirror that former wine’s syrupy opulence and bottomless depth. Laurent feels that this will ultimately be proven to be the wine of the vintage. The bouquet now is very, very deep, very, very powerful and quite primary, as it offers up notes of red plums, black cherries, blood orange, vinesmoke, mustard seed, gamebirds, earth and espresso. On the palate the wine is monumentally scaled, with wave after wave of fruit on the attack, substantial, but very ripe tannins, and great length and grip on the remarkably soil-driven finish, given the onslaught of fruit on the attack. Larger than life.” (03/2007)