Leroy Versus DRC Tasting at Wine Watch

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"Nothing makes the future look so rosy as to contemplate it through a glass of Chambertin."
- Napoleon Bonaparte

 

 

Our study in Bordeaux concludes with the best of the 1970’s on February 1st and the next evening we start our study of Burgundy with two of the most sought after producers and some of the most expensive wines on earth- it’s our annual Domaine de La Romanee Conti –vs- Maison/Domaine Leroy thrown down on February 2nd.

Probably one of the most sought after wines by collectors of fine Burgundies are the wines of Domaine De La Romanée Conti (also called simply DRC).  They carry a sort of mystique about them that you only find in collectibles such as a Picasso, or a Rembrant- things that only an elite few can afford to own and even fewer really appreciate.  

Talk of Lafite or Mouton or the upstart Petrus pales in significance when one considers that this precious piece of earth was a sacred spot five centuries before the first words were ever written about claret.  Consider, for example, the significance of that crisp, fall day in 1241 when the landscape was red with the color of wine, and the air was laden with the smell of it.  The monks gathered in their Abbey at the Vosne and decided to sell the vineyard of Romanée-Conti.  They had owned it for almost 200 years and it was a monumental event when it returned to private hands.  Over the ensuing centuries, inheritance laws and the wave of anti-clericism that followed the French Revolution caused the great growths of Burgundy to be divided into a thousand meager plots.  So sacred was the vineyard of Romanée-Conti, that it never once sub-divided through nine changes of ownership.

The vineyard was once called La Romanée until it was purchased by the Prince de Conti in 1760.  De Conti acquired the vineyard only after a great struggle.  The other contestant was King Louis the Fourteenth’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour.  The prince held a banquet to celebrate the acquisition; underscoring the significance of the event was the fact that it was attended by figures such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau; even a very young Mozart was there to play the harpsichord.  When the Conti fled France during the revolution, Romanée-Conti changed hands several more times – among its owners was Napoleon’s banker.

Today’s proprietors, the Leroys and the De Villaines, have run the Domaine jointly since 1942.  After an emotional power struggle, Aubert De Villaine, who has co-managed the Domaine for 19 years, has emerged from the shadows of the ubiquitous and flamboyant Madame Bize Leroy (who was booted out by the De Villaines and other members of the Leroy family for alleged conflicts of interest).

Many critics, in describing these wines, talk of the continuity of house style and the winemaking genius of the Domaine.  The quietly purposeful Aubert De Villaine takes a little credit for the greatness of these wines.  He speaks of the “genius of the terroir” and of the Domaine’s efforts to keep the winemaking as simple and natural as possible.  American viticulturists may think they have a corner on organic farming, but De Villaine notes that the Domaine’s wines are 100 percent organic.  There are no sprays or pesticides used in the vineyard.  Although De Villaine pays homage to technology and talks of clonal research, he stresses that everything is done to ensure as little manipulation of the wine is done as possible.  Except for the 100 percent new oak, which is used with every one of the Domaine’s wines and the fact that as of 1995 the wines are no longer bottled by barrel (which critics claimed caused bottle variation), one gets the impression that things are done much in the same manner as they were 100 years ago.  De Villaine is succinct:  “There is more to be learned in what not to do than there is in what to do.  Nothing is more difficult than to be simple”.

There are some wine writers that feel there is somewhat of a secret when it comes to the wines of this fabled estate.  Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate has stated that the Domaine’s use of lightly toasted François Frères barrels (the preferred source for most of the great estates of the Côte d’Or), which are air dried for three years prior to use, could have something to do with it.  However, Bernard Noblet, the cellar master, has assured that they are neither steam cleaned nor are they rubbed with any special ointments as speculation has suggested. 

La Tâche is entirely owned by Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, a fact that makes it a "monopole."  The domaine has exclusive rights on a second vineyard -- the grand cru Romanee-Conti itself.  It's almost joined at the hip with La Tache; they are within a stone's throw of one another. And just like the great grands crus from the Côte d'Or, Burgundy's "golden slope," both vineyards are well-drained and exposed to the east-southeast; both tilt down gently on the hillside toward the stone walls surrounding Vosne-Romanee.  This village lies in the center of the Cote de Nuits, and its grands crus are the sirloin cut of red Burgundy country: no sinewy tannins, just a marbling of smooth texture.  The wines made here are famous for their spicy, perfumy nose, highlighted by cinnamon and earthy notes that rely more on spices than red or black fruits.

 

My love for Burgundy becomes greater with every bottle that I open and I have been opening a lot of Burgundy lately.  Leroy is considered the best of the best as far as Burgundy is considered and this is the first time that I have been able to offer a comprehensive list of wines from this Maison/Domaine.   We have the very first vintage of the Domaine wines on this offering from the 1988 vintage as well as a good selection of Maison offerings.  The Maison offering are from some of the best vineyards in Burgundy and have been brought through elevage and have been cellared with meticulous care giving you a wine that has been cared for perfectly until it arrives to your cellar. 

Here is what a few of the critics have said about Leroy:

"In her wines, Lalou seeks a magnified delineation of flavors. Each wine offers a kaleidoscope of sensation, each of which is distinct from the other with no blurring or muddiness. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to mistake one vineyard for another in a Domaine Leroy wine. Lalou seeks a degree of purity, allied to extraordinary concentration, that is almost unmatched by any other producer." - Matt Kramer, LA Times

"Her wines are exactly what they should be as expressions of the terroirs from which they come." - Robert Finigan

"I have said it so many times that it may seem redundant, but " let me repeat it- Lalou Bize-Leroy stands alone at the top of Burgundy’s quality hierarchy. Because she is a perfectionist, and because she has the courage to produce wines from low yield and bottle them naturally, without fining or filtration." - Robert Parker

 

A bit of History about Maison/Domaine Leroy:

More than a century ago, in 1868, Francois Leroy founded Maison Leroy in Auxey-Duresses, a small village in Burgundy near Meursault. Throughout the years, Leroy has remained a traditional family business. LaLou Bize-Leroy joined the family business in 1955. With great devotion and a lot of work, through constant tastings, she undertook to understand the essential characteristics of each terroir from each vineyard of Burgundy. For Leroy she searches unceasingly to purchase the best.

As a result Leroy cellars a prestigious inventory, which led Jacques Puisais, famous oenologist and great connoisseur, to write "here we are at the Louvre Museum . These are cultural moments about wine and its language. It is a place of reference for great works of the vine." Additionally, Leroy was the distributor of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti wines until January 1st 1992. The Leroy family still owns 50% of the shares.

The wines of Domaine Leroy are produced through the bio-dynamic method. This method prohibits the use of all chemicals, including weed killers, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, moreover it reintroduces the importance of the knowledge of the earth’s cycles and essential cosmic rhythms throughout the year. In short, every effort is made to extract the quintessence from the grapes.

 

Two of Burgundy's elite will face off this evening!  This will be a "Once in a Lifetime" tasting to remember!!  Well they all are but this kicks off my 48th B-day celebration!!!  This event is $995 + tax per person there are only 12 seats available.  For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

 

Domaine de La Romanee Conti Versus Leroy
Thursday, February 2cd
7pm

1969 Leroy Echezeaux Grand Cru

These old burgundies have few reviews in publications like the Wine Spectator so the best place to see how these old dogs are drinking is to check out who's drinking them on Cellar Tracker.  This wine has an average score of 92.4 points and this is my birthday year!

1971 Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache Grand Cru

(95 points)  Classic and very ripe mature burg fruit intermingles with a wonderful array of spices, especially anise and soy all of which are framed by a touch of caramel. The flavors are extremely rich, sweet and wonderfully concentrated with a deep, very sweet essence of Pinot finish that still retains glimpses of its former power. The tannins are fully resolved and the finish is nothing but pure silk and velvet. Tasted many times and while there is some bottle variation, well-stored bottles are consistently marvelous. (10/2011) Allen Meadows - Burghound

1985 Maison Leroy Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $995.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(94 points)  The 1985 Leroy Ruchottes-Chambertin is a classic example of a grand cru from the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation. The color is still very dark ruby, and the bouquet has just begun to release secondary aromas of grilled meats, leather, and baked red and black fruits. The high tannin levels may cause some to think the wine is rustic and rough-edged, but there is sensational concentration of fruit, a deep mid-palate, and a spectacular, long, opulent, tannic finish. The wine is still too young to be enjoyed, and can be safely cellared for another 20-25 years. (12/1992) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

1988 Domaine Leroy Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

This is the first vintage of Domaine wines from Leroy and it is amazing that the old wine that were negociant were so good it was hard to believe that the Domaine wines could be even better but they are!!

1990 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $2895.00  Sale $2547.50
Quantity in Stock: 5

(96 points)  The magnificent 1990 Clos de Vougeot is medium-to-dark ruby-colored and offers a nose of waxy red cherries. Big, broad, and medium-to-full-bodied, it has satin-textured black cherries and spices that seemingly last forever in its interminable finish. This wine has great harmony, equilibrium, and balance. (10/2000) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1575.00  Sale $1386
Quantity in Stock: 15

(95 Points) Gentle at first, offering rose petal aromas, it turns quite savage and tough on the palate, with loads of fruit cloaked in the very firm tannin structure. The acidity is there, and the length is terrific, but it needs time. Best from 2006 through 2026. “PM Wine Spectator Issue: Sep 30, 1999

2000 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1575.00  Sale $1386
Quantity in Stock: 2

At this early point, there was virtually no difference between this bottle and the 750 ml, the review of which is: Brooding, backward and quite a bit more reserved and less expressive with subtly spicy black fruit aromas trimmed by a subtle hint of oak and followed by restrained, pure, gorgeously sappy and harmonious, completely seductive flavors that offer the best delineation of any of these wines. This is extraordinarily fine and detailed with length that lasts and lasts. Though this will undoubtedly add weight and complexity, it will likely always be understated and refined rather than powerful. This is a simply sublime combination of spice, silk and velvet delivered in a perfect sphere of impeccable balance. Incredible by any standard but especially so for the vintage. Tasted: Mar 05, 2005 Score: 91 Drink: Try from 2020+ in this format Burghound

2002 Domaine de la Romanee Conti  Grand Echezeaux  Grand Cru

(93 points)  Sweet, pure and completely classic mostly red pinot fruit aromas are enhanced by subtle nuances of floral notes, damp earth, underbrush and even a hint of game. The big, muscular but utterly refined flavors are superbly intense, reserved and backward supported by remarkably sophisticated tannins and stunning length. This is a very concentrated wine of real breed and impeccable balance that should age for 3 decades, perhaps longer. The transparency is better in the 2001 but there is a bit more mid-palate concentration in the 2002. A choice, qualitatively speaking. (7/2006) Allen Meadows - Burghound

 

Menu
Selection of Cheese: Epoisses, Chevre and Triple Crème Brie
Beef Bourguignon deconstructed

 

This event is $995 + tax per person there are only 12 seats available.

 

 

Everything we have in the store from these two great producer.

 

 

1985 Maison Leroy Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

 

1985 Leroy Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques
Price: $795.00    Your Price: $699.60
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

1985 Leroy Gevrey Chambertin Estournels St Jacques
Price: $795.00    Your Price: $699.60
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

1985 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $1495.00    Your Price: $1315.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

1988 Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $4495.00    Your Price: $3955.60
Quantity in Stock: 4

 

1990 Maison Leroy Nuits St. Georges Aux Boudots
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

(94 Points)  Of the five outstanding offerings from the village of Nuits St.-Georges, the most exotic and flashy is the Nuits St.-Georges-Aux Boudots. The huge nose of roasted meats, pure black-raspberries, and herbs soars from the glass. Full-bodied, with layer upon layer of rich, unctuous Pinot fruit, this super-concentrated, voluptuously textured wine is so rich that the formidable tannin levels are nearly concealed. The finish goes on and on. +

 

1990 LEROY CLOS VOUGEOT GRAND CRU
Price: $2895.00    Your Price: $2547.60
Quantity in Stock: 5

 

1996 Leroy Bourgogne Rouge
Price: $80.00    Sale Price: $60.00
Quantity in Stock: 11

 

2002 Domaine Leroy Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 8

 

2005 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $2295.00    Your Price: $2019.60
Quantity in Stock: 9

 

2005 Domaine Leroy Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $2950.00    Your Price: $2596.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

2005 Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $3995.00    Your Price: $3515.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

(95 Points) Their 2005 Richebourg leads with black raspberry liqueur, crystalized ginger, coconut, and candied violets. In the mouth, a meaty element, enhanced spiciness and a tart yet stewy rhubarb note emerge. To state that the overall impression is fat, full and creamy seems unnecessarily repetitive. But there is much more obvious tannin and new wood (even though it is the same 100%) in evidence than with the wines that proceeded it, and perhaps partly in consequence the formidably long finish is dominated by roasted meats with a sort of dry-rubbed spiciness, the suggestions of fruit more spiritous than fleshy. Still, the sheer intensity displayed is itself remarkable. This would be an amazing wine to revisit, but probably not inside a decade. The wine Advocate

 

2005 Domaine Leroy Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $2950.00    Your Price: $2596.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

2005 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts
Price: $1195.00    Your Price: $1051.60
Quantity in Stock: 7

(93-96 Points) Tasting note: A step up in elegance and refinement with strikingly pure and airy ripe black fruit aromas redolent of the classic Asian spices that certainly can be found on the detailed, balanced and minerally flavors that are more refined and less robust than the Brulées yet the focus, harmony and transparency are truly stunning. This is reference standard quality and it's entirely possible that this will be the best Leroy Beaux Monts ever made. This is definitely one of those 'wow' wines. Highly recommended. BH Tasted: Jan 01, 2007 Score: 93-96 Drink: 2017+ Comments: Don't miss! Outstanding, Issue #25

 

2005 Domaine Leroy Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 9

(92 Points) Insiders have long known that one of the treasures of the Leroy portfolio is the Savigny Les Beaune-Les Narbantons. Consistently the finest wine made in that appellation, it achieves grand cru quality because of its extraordinary richness and multidimensional character. The 1990 is awesome. The forceful bouquet, which is just beginning to form, soars from the glass, offering up aromas of minerals, toasty oak, and gobs of black fruit. In the mouth, there is magnificent richness, medium to full-body, and a layered, multi-dimensional, chewy texture that goes on and on. The moderate tannins are nearly obscured by the wine's sweet concentration of fruit.  Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

 

2006 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

2006 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brulees
Price: $795.00   Your Price: $699.60
Quantity in Stock: 12

 

2006 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $995.00    Your Price: $875.60
Quantity in Stock: 12

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons
Price: $595.00    Your Price: $523.60
Quantity in Stock: 24

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts
Price: $795.00    Your Price: $699.60
Quantity in Stock: 6

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots
Price: $650.00    Your Price: $572.00
Quantity in Stock: 20

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brulees
Price: $795.00    Your Price: $699.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Price: $1995.00    Your Price: $1755.60
Quantity in Stock: 9

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Nuits St. Georges Aux Lavières
Price: $450.00    Your Price: $396.00
Quantity in Stock: 23

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Nuits St. Georges Aux Allots
Price: $425.00    Your Price: $374.00
Quantity in Stock: 25

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1975.00    Your Price: $1738.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée Les Genaivrières
Price: $495.00    Your Price: $435.60
Quantity in Stock: 8

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru
Price: $1250.00    Your Price: $1100.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $1250.00    Your Price: $1100.00
Quantity in Stock: 20

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $2150.00    Your Price: $1892.00
Quantity in Stock: 6

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $1995.00    Your Price: $1755.60
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

2007 Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $2950.00    Your Price: $2596.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

1972 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru
Price: $1495.00    Sale Price: $1196.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

 

1978 Domaine De La Romanee Conti Romanee Conti Grand Cru
Price: $25000.00    Sale Price: $20000.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

A classic vintage for Burgundy and we drank this wine at our Romanee Conti vertical just a few years ago, it was the wine of the night next to the 1959- which was also spectacular.

 

1990 Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache Grand Cru
Price: $5500.00    Sale Price: $4875.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

(100 Points)  I cannot think of a more profound, young red Burgundy tasted than DRC's 1990 La Tache. Although it still requires another 3-4 years of cellaring, it is incredibly endowed, with an extraordinary perfume of Asian spices as well as jammy black raspberries, cherries, and blackberries infused with smoke, toast, and dried herbs. Full-bodied, but ethereal, with layers of flavor, as well as mind-boggling delicacy and complexity, this youthful La Tache will be at its finest between 2004-2015. eRobertParker.com, Feb 2002

 

 

1990 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $2995.00    Your Price: $2635.60
Quantity in Stock: 11

(96 Points) The DRC produced splendid wines in 1990, and the Richebourg is close to reaching its plateau of maturity. A dark ruby color reveals lightening at the edge. The stunning aromatics offer intense aromas of spring flowers, black fruits, licorice, and toasty new oak. Fleshy and medium to full-bodied, with a velvety-textured palate, and sweet fruit, this smoky, rich, complex red Burgundy can be drunk now and over the next decade. eRobertParker.com, Feb 2002

 

1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1595.00    Your Price: $1403.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

(96-98 Points) The DRC's Romanee St.-Vivant is a tough wine to evaluate. I found the 1990 to have a pervasive earthy, cinnamon, clove, sweet fruit-scented nose intermingled with scents of spicy new oak. Although closed, the wine exhibits great depth, medium to full body, and copious quantities of hard tannins in the long, structured, austere finish. It requires a patient buyer. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2015.  The Wine Advocate

 

1990 Domaine de La Romanee Conti Romanee Conti Grand Cru
Price: $23,500.00    Sale Price: $18,900.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

Tasting note: (bottled barrel by barrel). Medium ruby color. Initially, this is aromatically tight and closed but after 2 hours in the glass, it absolutely explodes from the glass with a breathtaking panoply of Asian spices, exotic fruit aromas and a touch of earth followed by rich, lush, almost opulent flavors that melt in the mouth and coat the palate with a layer of velvet on the fantastically long finish.

Burghound Review: This is a dramatic wine in every sense of the word yet it's not at all showy but rather discreet and understated. I particularly like the sense of inner power and purity of expression and this is as good a wine as I ever hope to drink. It should last for another 50 years and if you ever have the chance, don't miss it! Consistent notes. Tasted: Jul 04, 2005 Score: 99 Drink: 2010 to 50

 

Robert Parker review:

 

(98 points) The 1990 Romanee-Conti should ultimately be the most compelling and complex of the DRC wines. Normally it possesses a lighter color than either La Tache or Richebourg, but in 1990 it boasts a surprisingly saturated color that is the equal of La Tache and Richebourg. The nose offers up sweet, clove, cinnamon, and blackberry aromas intermingled with toasty, smoky new oak. Lavishly rich and full-bodied, with abundant tannins, this profound, surprisingly large-scaled, tannic wine boasts more muscle than usual. Let's hope that the billionaires that buy it have as much taste as money. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025 .

 

The DRC 1990s, all of which were bottled in April/May, are among the deepest colored wines from this domaine that I have tasted in the last decade. Moreover, they are firmly structured, with significant tannins from both the vintage and from the aging in 100% new oak barrels. For the fortunate few who have had the discretionary income to afford the other great vintages of the DRC from the eighties, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1988, and 1989, the question is - are the 1990s superior? I am not sure they are any better than the 1980s, 1985, and 1988s, but they undoubtedly represent a classic, concentrated, long-lived style of wine. Moreover, all of these wines should have a more graceful evolution and broader window of drinkability than the tannic 1988s, as well as potentially greater longevity than the succulent and opulent 1985s. All of these offerings are outstanding, with that tell-tale complex, exotic fragrance that the DRC routinely achieves. Wine Advocate #83 Oct 1992

 

1995 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment 12pk
Price: $36,500.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

 

1995 Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache Grand Cru
Price: $2250.00    Your Price: $1980.00
Quantity in Stock: 17

(98 Points) Pale to medium ruby with a touch of brick. The La Tache gives very little on the nose to begin with but soon blossoms into the most incredible cherry compote, black truffle, cloves, loam, saucisson and tobacco leaf aromas. The palate shows exemplary structure and concentration, seamlessly knitting very crisp acidity with a firm level of very finely grained tannins and layer upon layer of complex fruit, mineral and game flavours. Very long finish. This wine has many great years left and will generously reward the patient. In Asia # 0510, May 2010

 

1995 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee St Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1175.00    Your Price: $1034.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

(93 points) Unctuous, showing delicious fruit and terroir character. Almost delicate, but also full-bodied, rich and ripe, with attractive rose petal, plum, black cherry and currant character. So ripe, it's almost hot on the finish, but still a lovely, velvety wine. Best after 2005. –PM Issue: Aug 31, 1998

 

1995 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $1575.00    Your Price: $1386.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

 

1995 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru
Price: $13,500.00    Sale Price: $10800.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 Points) Sensational, very serious. Clearly a vin de garde… Displays lovely rose petal, violet, tar aromas followed by plum, black cherry & cassis flavors. Loads of ripe tannins leads to a sweet-tasting finish that won't quit. The best Romanee-Conti in years.”  Wine Spectator

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment 12pk
Price: $37,500.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru
Price: $4950.00    Your Price: $4356.00
Quantity in Stock: 9

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
Price: $2950.00    Your Price: $2596.00
Quantity in Stock: 29

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti
Price: $15750.00    Your Price: $13860.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 Points) Incredible harmony to this pedigreed red Burgundy. Closed on the nose now, it unfolds layers of elegant yet superripe fruit, wrapping around the palate, coating every taste bud with the silky flavors. Full-bodied and not powerful, it's just lovely, with an aftertaste that seems to last for minutes. Best from 2006 through 2036.  Wine Spectator,September 1999

 

1996 Domaine de La Romanee Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $1150.00   Your Price: $1012.00
Quantity in Stock: 16

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $1350.00    Your Price: $1188.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

 

1996 Domaine de La Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $1950.00    Your Price: $1716.00
Quantity in Stock: 19

(95 points) Full-bodied, showing gorgeous fruit, this is very intense. It holds your attention as it settles its foundations into the palate, tightening its grip with seductive cassis, blackberry, fresh acidity and terrific floral character. A tamed monster. Drink now through 2026. (9/1999)  Wine Spectator

 

1996 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1575.00    Your Price: $1386.00
Quantity in Stock: 15

(95 Points) Gentle at first, offering rose petal aromas, it turns quite savage and tough on the palate, with loads of fruit cloaked in the very firm tannin structure. The acidity is there, and the length is terrific, but it needs time. Best from 2006 through 2026. “PM Wine Spectator Issue: Sep 30, 1999

 

2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment 12pk OWC
Price: $32,500.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $1595.00    Your Price: $1403.60
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $1350.00    Your Price: $1188.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

 

2000 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1575.00    Your Price: $1386.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

At this early point, there was virtually no difference between this bottle and the 750 ml, the review of which is: Brooding, backward and quite a bit more reserved and less expressive with subtly spicy black fruit aromas trimmed by a subtle hint of oak and followed by restrained, pure, gorgeously sappy and harmonious, completely seductive flavors that offer the best delineation of any of these wines. This is extraordinarily fine and detailed with length that lasts and lasts. Though this will undoubtedly add weight and complexity, it will likely always be understated and refined rather than powerful. This is a simply sublime combination of spice, silk and velvet delivered in a perfect sphere of impeccable balance. Incredible by any standard but especially so for the vintage. Tasted: Mar 05, 2005 Score: 91 Drink: Try from 2020+ in this format Burghound

 

2002 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
Price: $1595.00    Your Price: $1403.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

 

2002 Domaine De La Romanee Conti Romanee Conti Grand Cru
Price: $23000.00    Sale Price: $16900.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(90 Points) The 2002 Romanee-Conti sports a nose of orange zests, stones, herbs, and violets. Its delicate, light to medium-bodied character opens to reveal silky layers of black cherries, black currants, fresh herbs, and roses. Firm, unresolved tannin can be detected in its lengthy finish. Projected maturity: 2009-2018. Wine Advocate # 153, Jun 2004

 

2005 Domaine de La Romanee Conti La Tache Grand Cru
Price: $5900.00    Sale Price: $4250.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(99 points) There really is not all that much difference between the way this bottle showed and my original review from late 2007 other than the nose of this most recent experience is notably less exuberant. However it remains just as kaleidoscopic and dazzling with its array of red and black cherry, cassis, plum and subtle earth notes replete with beguiling Asian spice cabinet aromas and essence of rose petals. The intense, powerful and breathtakingly concentrated flavors possess a taut muscularity before culminating in a palate coating finish of simply huge length. Not surprisingly, this is still structured to the point of being chewy yet it is never rustic or coarse because the gorgeously detailed palate impression is buffered by buckets of dry extract. As readers know, I often use the word Zen to describe the kind of inner harmony of a great vintage of Romanée-Conti but rarely with La Tâche yet in 2005, the LT has this element of inner calm and grace as well. In sum, I remain confident that this huge but utterly classy and stylish wine will go down as one of the all-time great LT's. (1/2012) Allen Meadows - Burghound

 

2005 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee St Vivant
Price: $2500.00    Sale Price: $1795.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

(96-97 Points) Just as this year’s Echezeaux challenges the quality of the Grands-Echezeaux, another surprise of the vintage is a spectacular showing for the 2005 Romanee-St.-Vivant. A startlingly dark, mouth-watering amalgam of purple plum paste, blackberry preserves, bitter chocolate, toasted walnut, soy, and raw beef intrigues the nose. On the palate, this cleaves to the dark side, with viscous, mouth-coating concentration of lightly-cooked black fruits, charred meat, mysterious forest floor complexity, and bitter-sweet florality, but simultaneously delivers a vibratory finish like that of the energetic Grands-Echezeaux. With its palpable extract, profound personality, and refined but abundant tannins, this is surely wine to set aside for at least a decade.  Once the grapes in these fabled vineyards had reached a potential alcohol of 13%, reports Aubert de Villaine, he was ready to pick, because conditions had seldom been so conducive to perfect ripeness (including that of the stems). It was all done in a week, commencing with La Tache and Romanee Conti, and finishing on September 23 with Romanee-St.-Vivant (and Montrachet, on which I shall report at a future date). De Villaine intended to bottle in March or April by gravity in six-barrel lots, as has become general practice here over the past decade.  Wine Advocate #170, Apr 2007

 

2005 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg
Price: $3600.00    Sale Price: $2595.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(94-95 Points) The 2005 Richebourg suggests lightly cooked cherry, lilies, and vanilla-chocolate pot de creme, coming onto the palate with a gentle wave of creamy fruit, almost shockingly open-knit and youthfully generous. Low-toned richness of salted beef broth and a hint of wet stone add hints of gravitas, but despite ample (refined) tannins, there is nothing to restrain a veritable gushing of ripe, juicy, sweet finishing fruit. This might close up for a time, but these early indications suggest one ought to revisit it in 3-5 years and expect it to offer much earlier enjoyment than the Grands-Echezeaux or Romanee-St.-Vivant.  Wine Advocate #170, Apr 2007

 

2005 Domaine Romanee Conti Romanee Conti Grand Cru
Price: $22000.00    Sale Price: $18499.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(99-100 points) There are more startling complexities in the 2005 Romanee-Conti than in any other wine here today, perhaps in the vintage. A stunning, high-toned and utterly unique perfume of pink grapefruit, blood orange, tangerine rind, vivid rose petal, musk, cinnamon, sage, and cassis seduces the olfactors in kaleidoscopic rotation. I hesitate to court sacrilege or ridicule with Germanic allusions but it is impossible not to imagine a great Pinot scented with Gewurztraminer and Scheurebe. On the palate, a pure, clean meatiness emerges, like butchering a meadow-fed lamb, bitter-sweet flowers flying forth in an inner-mouth profusion. Soy and black truffle lend a dark, savory note to the proceedings, leading the long finishing procession over a path strewn with rose petals. Fear not: despite its silken texture, there are abundant tannins woven into this amazing tapestry as well, and I am sure those lucky enough to own some can retain it as collateral, then leave it to their children, safe in the knowledge it has not decayed. Reverential drinking after a dozen or more years would, however, be my preference.

Once the grapes in these fabled vineyards had reached a potential alcohol of 13%, reports Aubert de Villaine, he was ready to pick, because conditions had seldom been so conducive to perfect ripeness (including that of the stems). It was all done in a week, commencing with La Tache and Romanee Conti, and finishing on September 23 with Romanee-St.-Vivant (and Montrachet, on which I shall report at a future date). De Villaine intended to bottle in March or April by gravity in six-barrel lots, as has become general practice here over the past decade. Wine Advocate #170 Apr 2007

 

2006 Domaine de La Romanee Conti La Tache MAGNUM
Price: $6500.00   Sale Price: $4995.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(96 Points) While young La Tâche has the reputation of always being highly expressive aromatically, even explosive, there are some vintages where this tendency is more muted and 2006 is one of these. The positively gorgeous if presently reserved nose offers up the hallmark spice and floral components that are broad and deep though requiring some real glasswork to coax out but it's worth the effort as the nose here, restrained or not, is brilliant. The big and generous flavors are an exercise in contrasts as they are at once round and rich while remaining wonderfully defined and precise with more minerality coming to the fore than any of the prior wines displayed, all wrapped in a linear, precise and palate staining finish that not withstanding the initial aromatic reserve, is indeed explosive. This is already harmonious and the transparency and purity of expression are something to see. While I do not argue that the '06 La Tâche rivals vintages like '99 or '05, there is something special about this one that causes me to already be in love with it. In a word, magnificent and now that it is in bottle, my original description needs no modification except perhaps to observe that this is a Zen-like vintage for La Tâche as it is very calm and deliberate in demeanor. Tasted: Jan 01, 2009 Drink: 2026+ Burghound Issue 33

 

2006 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Montrachet (OWC)
Price: $5000.00    Sale Price: $3998.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

(96 points) Aubert de Villaine and his team harvested their 2006 Montrachet on September 26, and it was bottled (as a single assemblage) at the end of 2007. High-toned peach, lemon oil, musk, and floral aromas mark the penetrating, ethereal nose. Smoky, peach kernel pungency weaves its way through nutty, peachy richness on the palate. Less obviously dense, rich and sappy than the extraordinary 2005, this 2006 for all of its sheer viscosity and ripeness, displays a dynamic, almost shimmering sense of fruit and mineral interplay. Intriguingly, in my initial – November, 2007 tasting – this effect was more pronounced from a barrel that had been rolled to disburse the lees than in one that had undergone conventional batonnage. The youthful 2006 reflects its new wood environment in a way that the 2005 – at similar stages in its evolution – did not. There is no lack here of the mystery that should be expected from one of the world’s most fabled and expensive wines, not just in the paradox of viscosity, richness and power combined with elegance, lift, and refinement; but also in nuances that left me groping the lexicon for animal or mineral descriptors. Wine Advocate #180 Dec 2008

 

2006 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Grands Echezeaux
Price: $1598.00    Sale Price: $995.00
Quantity in Stock: 9

(92 Points) The Domaine's 2006 Grands-Echezeaux is altogether less charming and flattering than its ostensibly lesser sibling, leading as it does with fresh red meat and pronouncedly saline, marine mineral notes even in the nose. In the mouth, this is relatively spare but formidably-concentrated and finely-tannic, with cedar, tartly-edged though ripe black fruits, and alkaline mineral notes that carry into a striking, bloodily carnal and almost briny finish. Here is Pinot Noir in its role as a mirror for human flesh and bone. What I see sends shivers down my spine and excites my imagination, but the wine seems to have no intention of flattering me. I didn't encounter another Pinot at all like this in the vintage, and it should be fascinating to follow for a dozen or more years, but unlike the Echezeaux, I would not plan to open any bottles for at least another 3-4.

 

The Domaine de La Romanee-Conti harvested from the 20th-25th of September (commencing with Richebourg) and subjected the crop to rigorous sorting. Understandably, the viticultural meticulousness at this estate as well as its team of some 60 highly-skilled and –motivated pickers paid dividends in the context of a challenging vintage. Director Aubert de Villaine and cellarmaster Bernard Noblet vinified their 2006s with a lesser share of stems and whole clusters, and exposed them to new wood for a shorter period (thereafter racking into older barrels) than the corresponding 2005s.  Wine Advocate #186, Dec 2009

 

2007 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Montrachet (OWC)
Price: $5500.00   Sale Price: $4200.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

(97 points)As the late picking date would suggest, this is a very ripe and wonderfully nuanced wine with a brilliantly complex nose of white peach, pear, exotic yellow fruits, acacia blossom and citrus hints that complement perfectly the rich and monumentally constructed flavors that possess an almost chewy texture yet the mouth feel is one of satin and silk, all wrapped in a palate staining mildly toasty finish that displays impeccable balance and incredible length. To call this a knockout seems almost like faint praise but it is one genuinely stunning wine that should live for 30 to 40 years. (6/2010) Allen Meadows – Burghound

 

2007 Domaine De La Romanee Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $1398.00    Your Price: $1230.24
Quantity in Stock: 6

Note: approximately 45 year old vines from 2 different climats, 90% of which is in Les Poulaillères and the other 10% is in Clos St. Denis; there was a lot of replanting done here in the decades of the sixties and seventies

 

(90 Points) obvious earth notes that transfer over to the detailed, balanced and energetic flavors that possess excellent transparency on the vibrant and mouth coating finish. There is a lingering inner mouth perfume here that makes this quite seductive. Not surprisingly, this changed rather dramatically in the hour that I had to evaluate the '07s and the seemingly lighter weight flavors put on noticeable flesh though the nose slowly closed in on itself. Tasted: Jan 30, 2010 Drink: 2017+

Producer note: Co-director Aubert de Villaine yet again described 2007 as " a vintage of the vignerons, meaning that to be successful you had to have done excellent vineyard work as you could not have had high quality fruit without it. Bud break was extremely early thanks to an extremely warm April that also caused a significant advance in leaf development. Indeed it was so warm and the vegetation so advanced that we initially thought that we might have another 2003 on our hands. The extended flowering was also extremely early as it began around the 20th of May but then required three weeks to complete, which of course makes the final vineyard maturities highly variable and in some cases, even among the individual bunches. This predicted variability did indeed occur because even at véraison there was a difference of up to one week. The variability wasn't just limited to ripeness levels either as the summer weather was consistently inconsistent with a day or warmth followed by rain followed by cool weather and this pattern allowed powdery mildew, gray rot and botrytis to obtain footholds. The cool and damp weather slowed the maturation process and while we originally thought that we might harvest around the 20th of August, it was delayed until the first of September, which made for approximately 115 days after the flowering rather than the more usual 100. The warm and dry weather accompanied by the north wind that arrived in late August caused a rapid climb in maturities and sugars shot up like a rocket while the cool winds preserved the acidities. We picked slowly and deliberately over a ten day period under ideal conditions and finished on the 11th, except for the Montrachet which was picked on the 17th. We knew we would have to sort carefully and the work was exacting but what we kept was of excellent quality and quite ripe. The fermentations occurred with no difficulties using between 70 to 80% of the stems." M. de Villaine usually is willing to opine as to what other vintages a young one might resemble but in the case of the '07s, he demurred, noting that "the wines have changed so much from month to month during the élevage that it's really difficult to pin them down. There was a dramatic change after the malos were completed as the wines picked up color, flesh and power and I'm honestly not sure where they will finish stylistically speaking. It does appear that they will be classically structured wines of finesse and purity and will have crystal clear vineyard differences but other than that, it is more prudent to watch and wait at this stage of their development." Burghound Issue 37

 

2007 Domaine De La Romanee Conti La Tache Grand Cru
Price: $2250.00    Your Price: $1980.00
Quantity in Stock: 6

(95 Points) A reserved yet equally kaleidoscopic nose of red, blue and violet aromas that is wonderfully broad, spicy, fresh, airy and layered leads to intensely floral, mineral infused and focused medium weight plus flavors that possess a strikingly attractive mouth feel and while in the context of the pantheon of great vintages of this storied wine, the '07 will be viewed as one of the lighter examples, the focus and balance here is nigh on perfect as the finish explodes into a hugely long finale, all underpinned by firm tannins and bright acidity. This may seem to be a lighter vintage but it will require at least 15 years of cellar time before this will be sufficiently civilized to drink with real pleasure and probably 25 before it's fully resolved. One other point bears mentioning: it's been a number of vintages since I last saw La Tâche best the Romanée-Conti but 2007 may be one of them. Tasted: Jan 30, 2010 Drink: 2022+ Burghound Issue 37

 

 

2007 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru
Price: $1075.00   Your Price: $946.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

 

2012 Domaine de La Romanee Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $1200.00    Sale Price: $995.00
Quantity in Stock: 6