2019 Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes

(the majority of the fruit derives from Le Petit Maupertuis). Once again, the restrained nose is quite deeply pitched with more earth influences on the softly spicy aromas of poached plum, dark raspberry and hints of cassis. There is both excellent vibrancy and delineation to the muscular large-scaled flavors that retain a relatively elegant mouthfeel, and particularly so for Clos de Vougeot, all wrapped in a youthfully austere and exceptionally firm finale. Despite being constructed to age for 20+ years, this finish is not particularly hard or rigid. With that said, ample patience will definitely be in order. (92-94)/2039+<br />

Aromas of cassis, peonies, sweet spices, orange rind and plums preface Ponsot's 2019 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, a full-bodied, muscular and concentrated wine that's rich and powerful, with plenty of powdery tannin and deep reserves of lively fruit. Five barrels were produced, from one parcel in the lieu-dit Petit Maupertuis and another located below the Château de La Tour. Domaine Ponsot started picking on September 20, and winemaker Alexandre Abel reported yields some 35 to 40 below average, with alcohols in the 14s and healthy pHs at around 3.3. Yet while alcohols in 2019 were if anything higher than in 2018, the 2019 wines are more elegant, with livelier fruit tones and less overtly muscular structure. That's not a criticism of the 2018s, however, which we revisited from bottle, confirming that they are wines that will require patience: interestingly, the most put-together of the range was the Clos de la Roche, a cuvée that was bottled last, in July 2020, and which certainly seemed to have profited from the longer élevage. 93-95 points