Domaine Ponsot
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
2010
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2013-2034).
In 2026, the Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2010 sits squarely in the heart of its peak window, which opened in 2013 and extends through 2034. At 16 years from vintage, this wine has shed its formidable youthful tannic armor and reveals the earthy, complex character that makes Clos de la Roche one of Burgundy's most compelling Grand Crus. The dark cherry and plum fruit at the core has evolved into a deeper tertiary register, with pronounced iron, forest floor, smoke, and sous-bois notes framing a wine of uncommon depth. The exceptional acidity that defined the 2010 vintage across the Côte de Nuits now serves as a vivid, energetic spine holding the full complexity aloft. Eight years remain in this peak window, making 2026 an ideal time to open bottles with confidence that the wine is showing at or near its very best.
The ‘10 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes.
An iron-and-forest-floor colossus from Morey-Saint-Denis, Ponsot's 2010 Clos de la Roche VV is now in the heart of its long peak with eight prime years ahead and a depth of tertiary complexity that rewards every bottle opened.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The color is a deep, translucent ruby-garnet with a hint of brick at the rim, marking a wine in full maturity. On the nose, the 2010 Ponsot Clos de la Roche VV opens with great complexity: dark cherry and ripe plum yield quickly to layers of iron, wet earth, forest floor, woodsmoke, and a distinctive mineral pungency that is the signature of this exceptional vineyard in Morey-Saint-Denis. The tannins, once formidable, have softened into a broad, velvety structure that supports rather than dominates the fruit. On the palate, dark cherry and plum are now tinged with dried fig, morel mushroom, and faint tobacco. The exceptional natural acidity of the 2010 vintage drives a long, precise, mineral finish that lingers with iron and graphite. This is Clos de la Roche in full voice, a wine of earthy grandeur and uncommon structural integrity that rewards every bottle opened in 2026.
The 2010 vintage
The 2010 Burgundy Côte de Nuits vintage earned a Wine Spectator score of 94 points Outstanding, yielding reds described as showing ripe fruit and tannins with vivid acidity, vibrant and charming with balance and focus. The season was marked by cool nights throughout the growing cycle that preserved natural acidity even as fruit ripened fully during a warm summer. Late-season weather in Morey-Saint-Denis was favorable, allowing the old vines of the Vieilles Vignes parcel to achieve full phenolic maturity without excessive alcohol accumulation. The result is a vintage known for exceptional longevity across the Côte de Nuits, with the Clos de la Roche in particular benefiting from the structural backbone that cool-night acidity provides.
About Domaine Ponsot
Domaine Ponsot has farmed Clos de la Roche since the 1870s and is the appellation's largest and most historically significant holder. Laurent Ponsot, who led the estate for decades, established a philosophy of radical non-intervention: no new oak barrels, no filtration, no fining, and harvesting only when the grapes achieve full phenolic maturity regardless of calendar date. The Cuvée Vieilles Vignes selection is drawn from the oldest vine material in the parcel and concentrates the terroir expression to its most intense form, producing wines that require and reward extraordinary patience. The estate continues this rigorously non-interventionist approach today, with every bottle a direct expression of soil, vine age, and vintage.
From the cellar: pair with
Seared duck breast with mushroom jus
The wine's forest-floor and iron complexity mirrors mushroom umami, while duck fat provides textural counterpoint to vivid acidity.
Braised rabbit with thyme and lardons
Earthy slow-cooked rabbit draws on the wine's tertiary character of smoke, dried herb, and sous-bois for a seamless Burgundian pairing.
Aged Epoisses or Langres cheese
The wine's iron minerality and acidity cut through washed-rind richness, amplifying the earthy depth shared by both.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 1 to 2 hours in 2026; at 16 years this wine is fully mature and needs only brief aeration to bloom. Pour gently from a standing bottle to leave any sediment behind.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Morey-Saint-Denis, Burgundy, France
Frequently Asked
Is the 2010 Ponsot Clos de la Roche VV at peak in 2026?
Yes. In 2026 the wine sits in the heart of its peak window, which runs from 2013 through 2034. At 16 years from vintage the tannins have fully resolved and tertiary complexity has emerged in depth. The wine drinks at or near its best right now, with eight years of prime drinking remaining. For broader Burgundy Grand Cru context, see the [Burgundy region guide](/wines/region/burgundy).
Should I decant this wine?
Yes, but briefly. In 2026 this is a fully mature 16-year-old Burgundy. One to two hours of decanting in a wide-bellied vessel will allow the aromas to open fully and the wine to show its range. Pour gently from a bottle that has been standing upright for at least a day to leave any sediment behind.
What food pairs best with Clos de la Roche?
The wine's deep earthy complexity, iron minerality, and vivid acidity suit game birds, braised rabbit, roasted duck, and aged mushroom preparations. Washed-rind cheeses such as Epoisses or Langres are a classic regional pairing that highlights the wine's mineral depth and sous-bois character.
How does Ponsot's style differ from other Clos de la Roche producers?
Ponsot is defined by no new oak and zero intervention in the cellar, letting vine age and terroir speak directly. The result is wines of uncommon transparency to site, with a raw mineral quality that contrasts with the richer, oak-inflected styles of other Grand Cru producers. See the [Pinot Noir varietal guide](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir) for a broader look at this varietal across Burgundy.
How long should I hold remaining bottles?
The wine reaches hard decline around 2043. If you are holding multiple bottles, open your last no later than 2034 to 2036 when the peak window closes. The wine will remain enjoyable through 2038 at the cost of some fruit intensity. See the [2007](/wines/domaine-ponsot/clos-de-la-roche-grand-cru-cuvee-vieilles-vignes/2007) and [2020](/wines/domaine-ponsot/clos-de-la-roche-grand-cru-cuvee-vieilles-vignes/2020) vintages for comparison.