Domaine Ponsot 2008 Clos de la Roche - Vieilles Vignes
Grand Cru Red 750 ml
Score: 91
Tasted: Apr 23, 2016
Drink: Try from 2023+
Tasting note: There is a subtle but certainly not invisible touch of brett to the otherwise cool, ripe and complex aromas of plum, red and dark berries, earth and plenty of spice nuances. There is both good volume and energy to the well-detailed broad-shouldered flavors that culminate in an edgy and mildly drying finale. It's hard to know how much of the problem with the finish is attributable to the brett as often there is gas when there is brett which causes the supporting tannins to seem more prominent. My score is a compromise as this is not a bad wine but it's obviously not technically perfect. Moreover it's entirely possible that other bottles would show quite differently if there was no brett. I will have to try another bottle to see if the problem is limited to just this bottle or whether it's systemic.