JOHN GILMAN 97 POINTS: "I had very much liked the Ponsot Clos de la Roche out of barrel, but it certainly seems like I underrated it a bit back in the fall of 2008, as the wine has really turned out brilliantly and is already drinking with great complexity and breed at age seven. The absolutely brilliant bouquet soars from the glass in a blaze of black plums, black truffles, roasted venison, woodsmoke, coffee, incipient sous bois, fresh herb tones and a lovely base of dark soil. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully complex, with a great core of pure fruit, stunning soil signature, melting tannins and stunning length and grip on the focused and utterly classic finish. Stunning juice!"