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 | 18.5 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£3,477.20 |
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Jancis Robinson (18.5)Mid blueish crimson with quite a pale rim. Light nose initially with a hint of undergrowth but lots of ripe sweetness underneath. Jewel bright, so bright, fruit – not that intense, but very winning, and it opened up in the glass becoming more intense and super-bright cherry fruity with the merest hint of espresso. Marked acidity on the palate is the first impression and then some oak tannin still. Very, very youthful – much more introspective than I remember the 2004s at this stage. Even severe. You take this on faith at this stage because the fruit weight is not sufficient to distract from all the infant aspects of acid and tannin. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£3,662.00 |
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Vinous (97)I was blown away by the 2005 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru because though I have tasted it two or three times, never could I envisage that it would reach this level. It has laser-like precision on the nose with more blue fruit than I remember, so much mineralité, as if someone had just ground limestone directly into the wine glass. The palate is exquisitely balanced with filigree tannins framing the pure red fruit, a Pinot Noir with unerring symmetry. It gains weight and depth with aeration, ultimately transforming into a profound wine and one of the best bottles of Grands-Echézeaux that I have tasted from the domaine. Tasted at Noizé restaurant in London. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 86 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,555.20 |
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Wine Advocate (86)PRODUCTION: 1,678 cases. This wine was spectacular from cask, but tasting it three times from bottle has been a bewildering experience. The color is a disturbingly light to medium ruby. The wine's aromatics exhibit oak, smoke, and vanilla, but little fruit. No amount of coaxing or breathing enhances the wine's bouquet, which appears to crack up with exposure to air. There is moderately high tannin and good concentration, as well as a nasty toughness, suggesting a deficiency in flesh, weight, and extraction. Although it was impressive young, it now appears to be a lightweight La Tache. Will it turn around? |
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Burgundy | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£30,609.62 |
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Vinous (100)The 2005 La Tâche is simply magnificent. There is not too much I can add. Deep, powerful and richly textured, the 2005 simply has it all. Time in the glass releases the aromatics, but it is the wine’s pure sensuality I find most enticing. A host of dark red and blue stone fruits, hard candy and wild flowers take center stage. Even with all of its intensity, the 2005 retains striking freshness and purity. Can it get better than this? |
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Burgundy | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£62,220.04 |
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Vinous (100)The 2005 La Tâche is simply magnificent. There is not too much I can add. Deep, powerful and richly textured, the 2005 simply has it all. Time in the glass releases the aromatics, but it is the wine’s pure sensuality I find most enticing. A host of dark red and blue stone fruits, hard candy and wild flowers take center stage. Even with all of its intensity, the 2005 retains striking freshness and purity. Can it get better than this? |
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Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£16,213.61 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 2 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£5,457.20 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£11,394.41 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£38,902.84 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
Inc. VAT
£3,662.00 |
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Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
Inc. VAT
£11,484.02 |
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Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
Inc. VAT
£31,776.04 |
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Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 18.5 (JR) |
In Bond
£2,895.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (18.5)Mid blueish crimson with quite a pale rim. Light nose initially with a hint of undergrowth but lots of ripe sweetness underneath. Jewel bright, so bright, fruit – not that intense, but very winning, and it opened up in the glass becoming more intense and super-bright cherry fruity with the merest hint of espresso. Marked acidity on the palate is the first impression and then some oak tannin still. Very, very youthful – much more introspective than I remember the 2004s at this stage. Even severe. You take this on faith at this stage because the fruit weight is not sufficient to distract from all the infant aspects of acid and tannin. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£3,049.00 |
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Vinous (97)I was blown away by the 2005 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru because though I have tasted it two or three times, never could I envisage that it would reach this level. It has laser-like precision on the nose with more blue fruit than I remember, so much mineralité, as if someone had just ground limestone directly into the wine glass. The palate is exquisitely balanced with filigree tannins framing the pure red fruit, a Pinot Noir with unerring symmetry. It gains weight and depth with aeration, ultimately transforming into a profound wine and one of the best bottles of Grands-Echézeaux that I have tasted from the domaine. Tasted at Noizé restaurant in London. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 86 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,960.00 |
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Wine Advocate (86)PRODUCTION: 1,678 cases. This wine was spectacular from cask, but tasting it three times from bottle has been a bewildering experience. The color is a disturbingly light to medium ruby. The wine's aromatics exhibit oak, smoke, and vanilla, but little fruit. No amount of coaxing or breathing enhances the wine's bouquet, which appears to crack up with exposure to air. There is moderately high tannin and good concentration, as well as a nasty toughness, suggesting a deficiency in flesh, weight, and extraction. Although it was impressive young, it now appears to be a lightweight La Tache. Will it turn around? |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£25,500.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2005 La Tâche is simply magnificent. There is not too much I can add. Deep, powerful and richly textured, the 2005 simply has it all. Time in the glass releases the aromatics, but it is the wine’s pure sensuality I find most enticing. A host of dark red and blue stone fruits, hard candy and wild flowers take center stage. Even with all of its intensity, the 2005 retains striking freshness and purity. Can it get better than this? |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£51,834.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2005 La Tâche is simply magnificent. There is not too much I can add. Deep, powerful and richly textured, the 2005 simply has it all. Time in the glass releases the aromatics, but it is the wine’s pure sensuality I find most enticing. A host of dark red and blue stone fruits, hard candy and wild flowers take center stage. Even with all of its intensity, the 2005 retains striking freshness and purity. Can it get better than this? |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£13,506.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 2 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£4,545.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£9,490.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£32,403.00 |
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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. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
In Bond
£3,049.00 |
|||||
Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
In Bond
£9,562.00 |
|||||
Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |
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|
Burgundy | 1 | 97 (BH) |
In Bond
£26,464.00 |
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Burghound (97)An incredibly perfumed and supremely elegant if exceptionally ripe nose features notes of various black fruit scents that are replete with soy, hoisin, clove and anise nuances. There is outstanding power and richness to the refined, detailed and very firmly structured flavors that culminate in a precise, pure and driving finish that goes on and on. This is a really impressive effort that offers terrific potential but fans of this wine should note that it is arguably more masculine than it usually is yet at the same time utterly seamless. In sum this is arguably the finest RSV that the Domaine has ever produced. |