Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's History

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has roots dating back to the 13th century when the area was cultivated by monks from the Saint-Vivant Abbey. The name Romanée-Conti emerged in the 18th century when the estate was acquired by Prince Louis François de Bourbon, also known as the Prince of Conti.

Ownership of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has changed hands several times throughout history, from local nobility to major French wine merchants. In more recent times, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has been managed by the de Villaine family, who inherited the estate at the end of the 19th century and sold half of it to the Leroy family in 1942. Today, ownership remains shared between the de Villaine and Leroy families, both of whom have deep roots in the wine industry. Aubert de Villaine and Lalou Bize-Leroy have been key figures in maintaining and further developing DRC's reputation in the wine world, and today, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti holds a status among the world's most prestigious producers.

Vineyards

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's vineyards include some of the most iconic sites in Burgundy, such as La Tâche, Richebourg, and, of course, La Romanée-Conti. These vineyards are known for their unique terroirs, which combine limestone, clay, and perfect drainage to create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. La Tâche and La Romanée-Conti are monopole vineyards, meaning the estate is the sole owner of these plots.

DRC also owns portions of other prestigious vineyards, such as Le Montrachet, Échézeaux, Grands Échézeaux, and Romanée-Saint-Vivant, each contributing its unique characteristics to the estate's impressive portfolio.

Wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

The wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti are renowned for their complexity, depth, and intensity. With a delicate balance of fruit, acidity, and tannins, these wines are considered some of the finest examples of Pinot Noir-based wines in the world. One must also remember DRC's Chardonnay-based white wines, which undoubtedly rank among the elite of white Burgundy wines.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti produces the following wines:

Romanée-Conti Grand Cru

The crown jewel of DRC's portfolio and considered one of the best wines in the world. This wine is produced from a small, exclusive 1.8-hectare parcel and is known for its finesse, elegance, and complex aromas. In 2019, 4,906 bottles of Romanée-Conti were produced.

Characteristics: Romanée-Conti has a deep ruby red color, with aromas ranging from red and black fruits like cherry and blackcurrant to more complex notes of truffle, forest floor, leather, and exotic spices. The taste is silky and refined, with an impressive length and balance between fruit, acidity, and tannins. Properly stored, this wine can be kept for decades, developing deep complexity over time.

La Tâche Grand Cru

Another famous wine from DRC, known for its intensity and power, produced from a single vineyard of 6.06 hectares. In 2019, 11,929 bottles of La Tâche were produced.

Characteristics: La Tâche often has a darker and deeper color than Romanée-Conti. It has aromas of dark berries, spices, licorice, and notes of smoke and soil. On the palate, La Tâche is more intense and powerful, with rich tannins, high acidity, and a complex flavor profile that may include notes of black tea, chocolate, and forest floor. La Tâche also has excellent aging potential and often requires several years in the bottle to reveal its full depth.

Richebourg Grand Cru

Known for combining power and elegance, this wine is produced from a 3.51-hectare plot and is considered one of the most structured wines in Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's range. In 2019, 8,135 bottles of Richebourg were produced.

Characteristics: Richebourg has an intense, dark ruby color with a bouquet often dominated by black fruits like blackberry and blackcurrant, combined with spices, violets, and mineral undertones. The wine is known for its structure, fullness, and long aftertaste, with fine tannins that offer great aging potential. It has a full-bodied profile and a complexity that develops significantly over time.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru

Romanée-Saint-Vivant is more known for its finesse and floral character, produced from a 5.28-hectare vineyard. In 2019, 16,214 bottles of Romanée-Saint-Vivant were produced.

Characteristics: This wine is typically a bit lighter and more elegant than the other Grand Crus from DRC. It has a lighter color and a bouquet of red fruits like raspberries and strawberries, combined with floral notes of rose and violet. The taste is delicate yet complex, with a fine acidity structure and silky tannins. Romanée-Saint-Vivant is considered the most "feminine" of DRC's wines and is known for its refined balance and elegance.

Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru

Grands Échézeaux is produced from a 3.52-hectare vineyard and is known for its depth and richness. In 2019, 10,606 bottles of Grands Échézeaux were produced.

Characteristics: Grands Échézeaux has a deeper color and a more intense nose compared to Échézeaux. The aromas include ripe dark fruits, spices, and undertones of chocolate and forest floor. On the palate, it has a full-bodied structure, with powerful tannins and a lingering finish that reveals notes of licorice, smoke, and truffles. This wine also has considerable aging potential and requires time to unfold its full complexity.

Échézeaux Grand Cru

Échézeaux is one of the more accessible wines from DRC, both in style and price, produced from a 4.67-hectare plot. In 2019, 10,453 bottles of Échézeaux were produced.

Characteristics: This wine often has a lighter color and a more open bouquet than the other wines in the DRC portfolio. The nose is dominated by red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, with notes of spices, anise, and a bit of soil. The taste is medium-bodied, with a soft tannin structure and a fresh acidity, making the wine more approachable at a younger age compared to the more structured wines like La Tâche and Richebourg.

Corton Grand Cru

Corton Grand Cru is one of the newer additions to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's portfolio, with the estate acquiring the parcels in Corton in 2008, covering a total area of 2.27 hectares. DRC produces wines from three of Corton's most prestigious lieu-dits: Clos du Roi, Les Renardes, and Les Bressandes, and in 2019, 4,403 bottles of Corton were produced.

Characteristics: Corton Grand Cru has a rich and powerful character, with a darker color than many of DRC's other red wines. The aromas are intense, ranging from ripe dark fruits like cherry and blackcurrant to notes of earth, truffle, and spices. On the palate, the wine has a robust structure, full tannins, and a long, complex finish. Corton Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is known for its powerful profile, yet still has an elegance and finesse characteristic of the estate’s style. It has great aging potential and can develop positively over several decades.

Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Cuvée Duvault-Blochet

Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Cuvée Duvault-Blochet is a special wine produced in smaller quantities from Domaine de la Romanée's parcels in Vosne-Romanée. The wine is named after Jacques-Marie Duvault-Blochet, a former owner of the estate, and serves as a tribute to his significance for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Characteristics: Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru is known for its elegance and complexity. It has a light to medium ruby red color, with aromas of red berries, spices, and flowers like rose and violet. The taste is refined and delicate, with balanced acidity and silky tannins. The wine has remarkable freshness and can be enjoyed younger than some of the heavier Grand Cru wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, but it can also develop further complexity after 10-15 years.

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is the latest white wine addition to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's portfolio. DRC began producing Corton-Charlemagne in 2018 after purchasing plots in the famous Corton-Charlemagne part of Burgundy.

Characteristics: The wine has an elegant nose of citrus, white flowers, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, it displays a fine minerality, good acidity, and an almost oily texture, finishing long and complex. Corton-Charlemagne from DRC is less opulent than Montrachet but displays excellent finesse and aging potential.

Montrachet Grand Cru

Montrachet Grand Cru is considered one of the finest expressions of Chardonnay. The wine comes from a 0.68-hectare parcel in the Montrachet vineyard, and in 2019, just 3,404 bottles were produced.

Characteristics: Montrachet from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is known for its extraordinary richness and complexity. The wine has a golden color with aromas ranging from ripe yellow fruits, citrus, honey, and acacia flowers to complex notes of butter, vanilla, and flint. The taste is full-bodied, with a creamy texture, vibrant acidity, and a very long aftertaste that reveals several layers of flavor. Montrachet has excellent aging potential and can evolve beautifully over time.

5 Popular Vintages

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's wines are consistently of very high quality, but certain vintages stand out due to ideal weather conditions, careful harvesting, and exceptional winemaking. Some of the most celebrated vintages include:

• 1945: The 1945 vintage of Romanée-Conti is considered one of the most legendary wines ever produced.

• 1978: The 1978 vintage is also an example of a wine that continues to receive high praise for its structure, depth, and complexity, even after several decades in the bottle.

• 1990: Known for its richness, structure, and balance, the 1990 vintage has developed beautifully over time and is considered one of the greatest vintages in DRC's history.

• 2005: A classic vintage with great concentration, depth, and aging potential. The 2005 wines are still evolving and are expected to reach their peak in the coming decades.

• 2010: A vintage characterized by freshness, precision, and elegance. The 2010 wines are noted for their purity and longevity.

Many of these vintages have received top ratings from wine critics worldwide.

Production Methods

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has adopted biodynamic principles in its wine production, with a strong focus on healthy soil and natural methods to improve the vines. Only the best vines are selected, and all grapes are handpicked before undergoing strict pruning, where only the finest grapes are used. This results in a harvest yield that is often lower than that of many other wine producers in Burgundy.

Vinification Process

The vinification at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is characterized by minimal intervention, the use of natural fermentation, and careful aging in oak barrels. This method ensures that the wines retain their terroir-driven character and unique flavor profile.