1996 Ponsot Clos de la Roche

WINE TALK
1

I know I am going to do myself a disservice by posting this but this wine is starting to hit on all cylinders.

Below is a tasting note. This one was tasted in tandem with a 1996 Dujac Clos de la Roche (which was amazing btw). Bob Fleming is my witness here.

Two different expressions of Clos de la Roche. One floral and very expressive. The other quite regal and restrained but incredibly powerful.

One of my dinner partners was absolutely raving about the Ponsot. He has a palate that is
very refined and special. I trust him on matters of purchase almost as much as my own palate.

Crazy good. This is the third good bottle in a year. If you got 'em, don’t sell. They are starting to drink well.

1996 Ponsot Clos de la Roche

A beautiful red color. Youthful. The nose is focused cherry type fruit. Vibrant. Just starting to show some secondary character. Beautiful.
On the palate is where this wine really shines. The fruit is bright with a precision and focusing acidity that is stunning. An extremely long finish.
Still a baby in many ways. This is A+ . It is going to be a profound expression of Clos de la Roche when it reaches its apogee.

Sante.

2

Thanks for giving me hope that the 1996 Ponsot in my cellar is not swill.

3

I’m really looking forward to my bottle of the 1929.

4

Rudy wine?

5

Thanks for posting :slight_smile: I had the wine last August and really loved it as well so great to see similar notes

6

crazy, as this was a HORRIBLE wine for its first decade. Ponsot had been quoted as saying it would come around, but both 95 and 96 were dreck and I got rid of them. I am stunned that it would turn into a swan, as the duckling deserved to be put down.

7

The last time I had this was about 2005 and was very disappointed. Good to see your note Don and I hope you are correct that this has come around.

8

so is there hope for the 04?

9

Thanks for the note. I believe I do have a case sitting in Octavian, will bring them back in the next shipment.

10

I have hope for the 04 guys. I have some of that. This 1996 was a stunningly nice drink.

11

Last week, a friend opened a 375ml of the 04: I found it modestly enjoyable, with earthy aromas and flavors, and none of the three of us found it marked by “green meanies” (yes, I’m fairly sensitive to GMs.) It did, though, seem dull and prematurely aged, like many other 04s; nevertheless, if I owned a couple of bottles and weren’t being offered much money for them, I’d keep them and think about opening another in three years.