Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
About Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (aka DRC) is an iconic producer – and has maintained this position for many decades. DRC has a fascinating and lengthy history spanning the ownership of its namesake vineyard by the Bourbon Prince of Conti, through the French Revolution to the current owner of the de Villaine and Leroy/Roch families. Managing 25 hectares of exclusively Grand Cru vineyards, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the sole Burgundian estate to bottle nothing other than the pinnacle of the region’s classification system.
Chief amongst all Burgundy producers to claim holdings in most of the magical terroir in Vosne-Romanée, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is famously hailed as the King of Vosne-Romanée. Possessing only the best vineyard in the region, two of their most sought after red wines being Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, both of which are monopole holdings and frequently amongst the best offerings in Burgundy.
Apart from Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, DRC also produces four other Grand Cru wines from Vosne-Romanée at ultra-limited quantity each year: Romanée St-Vivant Grand Cru (approx. 1,500 cases/year), Richebourg Grand Cru (approx. 1,000 cases/year), Échezeaux Grand Cru (approx. 1,340 cases/year) and Grand Échezeaux Grand Cru (approx. 1,150 cases/year).
The style of the DRC wines is rich, intense, silky, transparent and quite light on the aromatic palate with more red than dark nuances. The use of whole clusters gives a very rich aromatic profile, and a very high complexity as the wine ages. All the wines are very reflective of the terroir, and the difference in terroir is very clear even when the wines are very young and powerful. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti normally use 100% new oak on the wines.
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£33,712.84 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 1996 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have drunk several times. The intense nose has opened a little since my last encounter, evolving to offer enticing scents of violet and earthenware notes; a hint of brine emerges with time. The palate is as introverted as previous bottles but opens with blackberry, meat juices and briar. There is quite a sharp line of acidity that keeps it edgy in style, and still that persistent finish. Superb. Tasted at the domaine with Bertrand de Villaine. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
Inc. VAT
£32,683.24 |
|||||
LaRVF (95)Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1998 |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 2 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£51,853.24 |
|||||
Vinous (99)The 1999 Richebourg is simply majestic. In fact, 1999 may be a year in which the Richebourg is just a bit more complex than the La Tâche. Hoisin, smoke, exotic spices and rich, unctuous fruit flesh out in the glass. The 1999 has more than enough fruit to fill out its big, broad frame. It, too, will drink well for several decades. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN (ST)) |
Inc. VAT
£28,374.04 |
|||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93)Bright medium-deep red. High-pitched, pure aromas of red berries, spices and flowers; a bit less "purple" than usual for this cuvee Gentle and rich but not yet focused in the mouth, with a pronounced note of coffee torrefaction. I find this a bit vague for Richebourg today, but certainly a lovely pinot in the making. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£38,902.84 |
|||||
Vinous (98+)The 2005 Richebourg makes a strong argument that the answer to that question might be a resounding ‘yes!’ Huge beams of tannin are present but nearly covered by the sheer intensity the fruit. Black cherry, plum, mint, lavender and graphite give the 2005 much of its gravitas. Tonight, the 2005 is insanely beautiful and absolutely stellar, and I say that never having truly fallen for the domaine’s Richebourg. The 2005, though, well, it simply will not be denied. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£44,733.64 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£24,653.09 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2020 Richebourg Grand Cru was picked on 23 and 24 August, the first fruit to be picked. Yields are 31.7hL/ha. It has a very perfumed bouquet, with more intensity than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, but I wonder whether it matches it for complexity? There is a lovely background ember scent with Earl Grey loitering in the wings. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, slightly confit on the entry (more so than the RSV), building towards a very convincing finish that possibly doesn’t fully deliver the precision of the previous vintage. This is forthright, but personally, I would like more intellect to develop, a facet perhaps it is hiding up its sleeve. 992 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London. |
|||||||||
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£28,078.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 1996 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have drunk several times. The intense nose has opened a little since my last encounter, evolving to offer enticing scents of violet and earthenware notes; a hint of brine emerges with time. The palate is as introverted as previous bottles but opens with blackberry, meat juices and briar. There is quite a sharp line of acidity that keeps it edgy in style, and still that persistent finish. Superb. Tasted at the domaine with Bertrand de Villaine. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
In Bond
£27,220.00 |
|||||
LaRVF (95)Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1998 |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 2 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
£43,195.00 |
|||||
Vinous (99)The 1999 Richebourg is simply majestic. In fact, 1999 may be a year in which the Richebourg is just a bit more complex than the La Tâche. Hoisin, smoke, exotic spices and rich, unctuous fruit flesh out in the glass. The 1999 has more than enough fruit to fill out its big, broad frame. It, too, will drink well for several decades. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 93 (VN (ST)) |
In Bond
£23,629.00 |
|||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93)Bright medium-deep red. High-pitched, pure aromas of red berries, spices and flowers; a bit less "purple" than usual for this cuvee Gentle and rich but not yet focused in the mouth, with a pronounced note of coffee torrefaction. I find this a bit vague for Richebourg today, but certainly a lovely pinot in the making. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£32,403.00 |
|||||
Vinous (98+)The 2005 Richebourg makes a strong argument that the answer to that question might be a resounding ‘yes!’ Huge beams of tannin are present but nearly covered by the sheer intensity the fruit. Black cherry, plum, mint, lavender and graphite give the 2005 much of its gravitas. Tonight, the 2005 is insanely beautiful and absolutely stellar, and I say that never having truly fallen for the domaine’s Richebourg. The 2005, though, well, it simply will not be denied. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
In Bond
£37,262.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£20,525.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2020 Richebourg Grand Cru was picked on 23 and 24 August, the first fruit to be picked. Yields are 31.7hL/ha. It has a very perfumed bouquet, with more intensity than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, but I wonder whether it matches it for complexity? There is a lovely background ember scent with Earl Grey loitering in the wings. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, slightly confit on the entry (more so than the RSV), building towards a very convincing finish that possibly doesn’t fully deliver the precision of the previous vintage. This is forthright, but personally, I would like more intellect to develop, a facet perhaps it is hiding up its sleeve. 992 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London. |
|||||||||
