Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-94)

Good medium red. More serious, tangy aromas of raspberry, minerals and smoke. Wonderful sweetness on the palate; really stuffed with fruit and yet less forthcoming today-perhaps more dominated by its structure- than the Clos Vougeot. Finishes long and firm, with a suggestion of medicinal cherry.

Vinous (95)

The 2013 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wonderful wine. Here it has a superb, quite aristocratic bouquet with wild strawberry, crushed stone, clove and just a subtle marine tincture. It just seems to grow in stature. The palate is extremely well balanced with firm backbone, great density with a muscular, quite grippy finish. It just gives you everything you want from a Richebourg. Tasted at Goedhuis & Co.'s annual Burgundy tasting in London.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru has a supremely well-defined bouquet of vibrant red cherries, crushed strawberry, orange zest and crushed stone, developing more floral scents with time and conveying wonderful breeding and real panache. The extremely well balanced palate reveals layers of red berry fruit, lightly spiced, with just a subtle tang of marmalade toward the finish. Impressive in terms of weight and body, this deserves several years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2021 Richebourg Grand Cru is aged with 50% whole bunches in 80% new oak. There is a touch of reduction on the nose, though despite that this seems impressively defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied, more expressive with fine-boned tannins, taut and fresh, quite intense (as you would expect from a Richebourg). I appreciate the manner in which it builds and exerts insistent grip and structure on the finish. Serious.

Vinous (93+)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes 1er Cru has slightly deeper fruit than the Les Hautes Maizières, bilberry and raspberry, autumn leaves, a touch of white pepper. This gains intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple opening, a little more lactic in texture with veins of dark chocolate infusing the red fruit, cohesive towards the finish with good grip on the finish. This will need time, a little broad-shouldered, almost Morey-like in a way.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2021 Vosne-Romanée Village has an attractive nose with quite generous red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit, hints of violet. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, tensile and citrus-fresh with an orange peel infused finish. Very fine.

The Bizot Vosne Romanee 1er Cru 2021 is a vinous marvel from the esteemed vineyards of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy, France. This sophisticated Pinot Noir represents the daring wine-making style of Jean-Yves Bizot, who hails from a lineage of esteemed vignerons. Bizot employs biodynamic practices, eschewing traditional techniques. Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, encouraging natural fermentation, while maturation takes place in aged oak, limiting external influence and truly celebrating the fruit.

The Bizot Vosne Romanee 1er Cru 2021 showcases intense, layered complexities, balancing rich cherry and raspberry notes, deepened by nuances of spice and earthy undertones. The voluptuous palate is adorned with silky tannins and a remarkably persistent finish. Emblematic of Bizot's philosophy, this wine encapsulates the terroir's distinct character; a testament to its Premier Cru classification. The Bizot Vosne Romanee 1er Cru 2021 is truly an expression of wine-making mastery, a must for discerning oenophiles and collectors.

Wine Advocate (91)

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée Village wafts from the glass with aromas of exotic spices, blood orange, cherries and peonies. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and intensely concentrated, with a sapid and almost pungently intense core of fruit, succulent acids and melting tannins, concluding with a long, savory finish. The wine's energy and integration mark it out as, if anything, a longer-term prospect than the 2015 vintage, though time will tell.

Burghound (90-92)

(Outstanding) A perfumed, exuberantly fresh and ultra-elegant nose reflects notes of airy red currant, cherry, rose petal and exotic tea. The lilting, pure and energetic medium weight flavors also possess outstanding depth and persistence for a villages-level wine. Note that this is not so structured or backwards that it couldn't be approached after only a few years of keeping.

Savour an intoxicating blend of complexity and elegance with the Bizot Vosne-Romanee Les Jachees 2021. This exquisite red wine, hailing from the prestigious Vosne-Romanée commune in Burgundy, France, is crafted with the expert finesse of Jean-Yves Bizot, a scientist-turned-vigneron renowned for his low-interventionist approach. An honest representation of its terroir, Bizot Vosne-Romanee Les Jachees 2021 showcases Pinot Noir grapes harvested from old vineyards and vinified without destemming, thus preserving the unique Burgundian character.

Each sip unfurls evocative notes of red fruit, undergrowth, and spices, nestled within a seamless structure that speaks volumes about Bizot's minimalist vinification style. The wine's allure is enhanced by Bizot's rigorous adherence to biodynamic principles, shunning industrial yeasts, adjusting sulphur levels minimally and minimising filtration, thereby encapsulating the pure essence of the noble fruit in Bizot Vosne-Romanee Les Jachees 2021. Savour this Burgundian masterpiece for an authentic fine wining experience.

Vinous (88-90)

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes, which contains a little whole bunch, has a tightly-wound bouquet with dark berry fruit, incense and touches of sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with an edgy, peppery entry. Quite structured for a Vosne-Romanée, the finish is reminiscent of a Morey-Saint-Denis.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Malconsorts 1er Cru contains two-thirds whole cluster and is matured in 50% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet of raspberry, wild strawberry and pressed rose petal scents, plus just a hint of black truffle in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. A gentle, lilting Les Malconsorts with a pliant, lightly spiced finish. Maybe other vintages have displayed a little more density on the finish, but this remains a lovely premier cru.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2020 Vosne-Romanée Les Malconsorts 1er Cru is two-thirds whole cluster. It has a well-defined, quite tertiary bouquet, the whole bunch quite expressive at the moment, imparting light black pepper and clove aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Good density here, grippy and quite concentrated towards the finish. Just a touch of black pepper emerges on the aftertaste. Serious and very complex. Closure: Diam

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2003 La Tache reveals aromas of milk chocolate, violets, roses, and dark cherries. Suave, displaying massive amplitude and a full-bodied, velvety-textured character, this behemoth’s flavor profile brings to mind chocolate-covered black cherries. Immensely powerful and noble, it offers an interminable finish that is packed with flawlessly ripe, sweet tannin. Projected maturity: 2013-2030.

LaRVF (98)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru 2004

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2008 La Tache amply illustrates why this monopole is the darling among most of those lucky enough to regularly taste or collect the wines of the Domaine de La Romanee-Conti. Hints of mocha, vanilla, maraschino, and almond paste lend a confectionary note to generously rich cassis and raspberry, while Latakia tobacco, peat, clove, black pepper, star anise, and cumin contribute commune-typical Vosne-Romanee personality in spades. The high-toned, sweet themes continue inner mouth, with intimation of heliotrope, rowan, and lily perfume, while the wine’s smoky, spicy elements seem to descend into a low-register undertone of roasted red meats and forest floor. As this opens to the air, a subtly sweet-saline suggestion of lobster shell reduction adds richness and succulence. Strikingly creamy in feel, this La Tache nevertheless possessed a fresh berry edge that helps convey vibrancy to a finish that practically glows in your mouth, offering another of those Burgundian paradoxes of light and dark. Here, de Villaine’s case for long-term potential is easily made, and I expect this will richly reward at least 15-20 years of attention.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (95-98)

Bright, full red. Sexy, multidimensional nose offers red berries, crushed stone, Oriental spices and a pungent smoky complexity. Wonderfully silky and concentrated, with dark raspberry, licorice and mineral flavors combining density and a light touch. This boasts a near-perfect balance of fruits, minerals, acidity and suave, fine-grained tannins. The slowly mounting finish saturates every square millimeter of the palate and builds inexorably. A great showing today. DRC produced 68 barrels of this juice in 2011: you do the math.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2015 La Tâche Grand Cru is a young classic, soaring from the glass with an exotic and stunningly complex bouquet of dark berries, plums, hoisin, smoked duck, dark chocolate, licorice and Chinese five spice, with just a touch of rose hip on the upper register. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, multidimensional and authoritative, with more mid-palate depth than the Richebourg, its attack more textural and layered. The tannins here are fine grained but firm—swathed in an ample core of plummy, almost savory fruit—and the finish is long and scintillating. Cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare and harvested September 7 and 8.

Vinous (98)

The 2016 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 24–25 at 31hL/ha (the highest of the five crus). It has an utterly sublime bouquet of blackberry, briar, crushed limestone, a dash of cracked black pepper and a little oregano. This is extremely complex and displays exquisite focus, to the extent that you could just sit and nose it all day. The palate is beautifully balanced, the spicy red fruit framed by filigreed tannin that belies its backbone. There is a gentle crescendo from start to finish, though being La Tâche it retains complete control. The precision and detail in the final third are deeply impressive. Less fruit-forward than the 2015, and lightly spiced, with an insistent grip. There is a captivating sense of completeness that will ensure longevity through three or four decades. 1,814 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in-bottle tasting in London.

Wine Spectator (98)

Fabulous red Burgundy--a true vin de terroir. The pure, crafty aromas jump out of the glass, titillating with rose petal, violet and tar notes. Fans out with the silkiest mouthfeel imaginable, delivering layers of wet earth, chalky stone, black currant and oak-infused spice. The tannins are amazingly classy, so it's enjoyable upon release, but clearly it should get even better in the cellar. Best from 2005 through 2015. 835 cases made. -PM

LaRVF (95)

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1997

Vinous (95)

The 2006 Richebourg is dark and brooding, with tannins that still need time to resolve. A sense of classic austerity runs through the 2006 that I expect will always be present.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93+)

Bright medium red. Pungent aromas of wild strawberry, minerals, spices and pepper. Not a fat wine but classy and suave, with terrific peppery, minerally lift in the middle palate. With aeration, this classically dry wine showed a stronger soil component and mounting power. Finishes with superb breadth and an impression of weightlessness. I might have initially mistaken this for the RSV-and vice-versa-had I tasted these blind, but this is ultimately the more powerful wine.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2008 Richebourg sweeps across the palate with a breathtaking combination of elegance and power. It is a huge wine that boasts tons of mineral-driven, pointed fruit with more than enough depth to fill out its broad shoulders. All of the elements build gracefully towards the intense, taut finish. The Richebourg is likely to require considerable patience. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2043.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The 2010 Richebourg is a kaleidoscope of black fruit, graphite, mint, violets and spices. It is a towering, statuesque wine that completely saturates the palate in all directions, seemingly at the same time. The 2010 stands out for its beguiling, totally exquisite aromatics. The trademark Richebourg structure is present, but this seems to be a vintage where finesse takes precedence over sheer power. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2060.

Vinous (95)

A wine of depth, power and richness, the 2011 Richebourg brings together the intensity of the Grands-Échézeaux with floral overtones and tannins that resemble those of the Romanée St.-Vivant, making for a wonderfully complete Burgundy. Savory and floral notes meld into graphite, plum and violet notes, leading to a finish graced with substantial energy and polish.

Wine Advocate (97)

The Richebourg 2012 was picked September 27-28 at just 19 hectoliters per hectare, one of the lowest yields in this vintage. This has a serious bouquet, reserved at first, more earth than air. Unusual for this cuvee, there is a sense of exoticism here, a Richebourg daring to show a bit of ankle. Blackberry pastille intermingle with wilted violets, and there is a touch of warmth that belies the precocity of the growing season. Leaving it aside for 10 minutes, there are hints of Provençal herbs, broom and even fennel. The palate is medium-bodied and the first thing that strikes you is its backbone. Well, this is Richebourg after all. But there is an arching structure to this wine that is disguised by the silkiness of its texture, plus an almost citrus freshness and brightness on the finish. This is a Richebourg that will make you giddy with pleasure. 634 cases produced.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Vines aged 46 years. 24 hl/ha. Harvested 23–24 September. Bottled late March 2018. 868 dozen produced. Lightish ruby. Very pretty cherry fruit jumping from the glass and just a touch of wild herbs from the whole-bunch influence. Opens up to a more peppery lift, almost makes me want to sneeze. I’ve never taken snuff but I wonder if the revitalising effect is similar? There’s still all that tangy wild cherry on the palate but it is more severe than I expected from the nose, really corseted by the super-fine but strict tannins. Amazing power after such a pretty first impression. As with the Romanée-St-Vivant, the whole-bunch aroma – very hard to describe but it has a sort of fresh, herbal, dusty, woodland effect – grows in the glass. Darker on the finish, really sinewy and perfectly firm, compact, endless. (JH)