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 | |||||
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£15,570.02 |
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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 |
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
Inc. VAT
£17,188.82 |
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LaRVF (95)Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1997 |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£17,188.82 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN (ST)) |
Inc. VAT
£13,658.42 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£16,411.22 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£14,349.62 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£14,029.22 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£16,216.82 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£16,010.42 |
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Vinous (95)The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru is a Burgundy of Cistercian austerity. Searing tannins give the Richebourg its trademark sense of energy and vibrancy. White pepper, mint, dried flowers and bright red berry fruit are all beautifully delineated, with underlying beams of minerality and salinity that lend dimension. Richebourg is very rarely finessed, but is more typically a wine of brawn and pure power, as it is here. A range of bright, floral/savory accents suggest a bit more elegance may lie ahead. We will see. My colleagues appreciate the Richebourg more than I do. Harvest began the afternoon of September 8, after Romanée-Conti. Rain on the 9th caused a break in picking for the day. The last of the Richebourg came in on the 10th. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£12,403.94 |
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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 | |||||
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98 (WS) |
In Bond
£12,967.00 |
|||||
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 |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
In Bond
£14,316.00 |
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LaRVF (95)Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 1997 |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£14,316.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 93+ (VN (ST)) |
In Bond
£11,374.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£13,668.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
In Bond
£11,950.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£11,683.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£13,506.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£13,334.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru is a Burgundy of Cistercian austerity. Searing tannins give the Richebourg its trademark sense of energy and vibrancy. White pepper, mint, dried flowers and bright red berry fruit are all beautifully delineated, with underlying beams of minerality and salinity that lend dimension. Richebourg is very rarely finessed, but is more typically a wine of brawn and pure power, as it is here. A range of bright, floral/savory accents suggest a bit more elegance may lie ahead. We will see. My colleagues appreciate the Richebourg more than I do. Harvest began the afternoon of September 8, after Romanée-Conti. Rain on the 9th caused a break in picking for the day. The last of the Richebourg came in on the 10th. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£10,327.00 |
|||||
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. |