Domaine Romanee Conti

Tasting Notes:
Mocha, toasted oak, and roasting spices are discerned in the nose of the light to medium-bodied 2002 Romanee-St.-Vivant. Its suave, silky-textured attack reveals impressive black cherry and blackberry flavors intermingled with cafe au lait as well as violets. This light to medium-bodied wineÕs mid-palate has terrific mouth-feel yet its lengthy finish displays some firm tannin that will require patience. Wine Advocate # 153 Jun 2004
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2009 - 2016

Tasting Notes:
Soy sauce, candied blood oranges, and dark cherries make up the nose of the outstanding 2002 La Tache. Extremely elegant and pure, this light to medium-bodied wine displays a superb satiny texture and a broad blackberry, black cherry, spice, and mineral-flavored character. It boasts a refined, noble personality with an exceedingly long, supple finish. The qualitative and ripeness differences between this wine and the Richebourg is striking as well as confounding. Wine Advocate # 153 Jun 2004
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2009-2019

Tasting Notes:
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.Wine Advocate # 153 Jun 2004
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2009-2018

Tasting Notes:
Soy sauce, candied blood oranges, and dark cherries make up the nose of the outstanding 2002 La Tache. Extremely elegant and pure, this light to medium-bodied wine displays a superb satiny texture and a broad blackberry, black cherry, spice, and mineral-flavored character. It boasts a refined, noble personality with an exceedingly long, supple finish. The qualitative and ripeness differences between this wine and the Richebourg is striking as well as confounding. Wine Advocate # 153 Jun 2004
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2009-2019

Tasting Notes:
The 2001 Romanee-St.-Vivant is ruby-colored and sports a nose of white pepper, spices, and black cherries. Light to medium-bodied, it is juicy, delicate, and reveals an oak-laced red fruit-flavored character. This complex, lace-like wine tightens in the finish, displaying notes of vanilla-laced new oak. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs co-director, stated that Ùit was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estateÕs vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.Î Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would Ùanother irregular year.Î Wine Advocate # 147 Jun 2003
Parker Points: 88-89
Drinking Period: 2003-2010

Tasting Notes:
The Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs policy of late harvests for their Montrachet leads to forward, expressive wines with boisterously flavorful personalities. The 2001 was picked at 14% natural potential alcohol and reveals some hints of botrytis. Buttered toast, hazelnuts, and smoky spices are found in its aromatic profile. This plush, intense wine admirably combines muscular power with elegance. Light to medium-bodied, it is a fresh, delineated, spice-laden effort that is packed with pears and minerals. Drink it over the next 9-10 years. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs co-director, stated that Ùit was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estateÕs vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.Î Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would Ùanother irregular year.Î Wine Advocate # 147 Jun 2003
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2003-2013

Tasting Notes:
Earth-laced blackberries can be discerned in the nose of the 2001 La Tache. Suave, plush, and regal, it boasts loads of candied black fruits in its deep character. This supple wine reveals superb clarity of fruit and an impressively long, fruit-filled finish. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2012. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs co-director, stated that Ùit was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estateÕs vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.Î Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would Ùanother irregular year.Î Wine Advocate # 147 Jun 2003
Parker Points: 90-93
Drinking Period: 2004-2012

Tasting Notes:
The extroverted 2001 Romanee-Conti is medium to dark ruby-colored and displays intensely spicy black cherry aromas. Juicy, supple, as well as packed with spiced, candied black fruits, this medium-bodied wine is concentrated, lush, and velvety-textured. It reveals more tannin than its siblings, yet it is ripe and enveloped in fruit. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs co-director, stated that Ùit was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estateÕs vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.Î Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would Ùanother irregular year.Î Wine Advocate # 147 Jun 2003
Parker Points: 91-93
Drinking Period: 2005-2014

Tasting Notes:
The extroverted 2001 Romanee-Conti is medium to dark ruby-colored and displays intensely spicy black cherry aromas. Juicy, supple, as well as packed with spiced, candied black fruits, this medium-bodied wine is concentrated, lush, and velvety-textured. It reveals more tannin than its siblings, yet it is ripe and enveloped in fruit. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-ContiÕs co-director, stated that Ùit was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estateÕs vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.Î Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would Ùanother irregular year.Î Wine Advocate # 147 Jun 2003
Parker Points: 91-93
Drinking Period: 2005-2014

Tasting Notes:
The 1999 Montrachet reveals golden hues to its color and a nose of massive ripeness. Powerful spice scents are intermingled with tropical yellow fruits and anise in its aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, it is fat, plump, oily-textured, and unbelievably rich. Its layers of spices and hyper-ripe fruits are sensually decadent and linger on the taster's palate for a long while. This is a broad, massively dense Montrachet for drinking over the next 8-10 years. Wine Advocate # 136 Aug 2001
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2001-2011

Tasting Notes:
Dark-colored, the aromatically tight 1997 La Tache reveals Asian spices, pepper, cherries and black currants. This is a velvety-textured, expansive, and massively ripe wine boasting flavors reminiscent of licorice and blackberry jam. It has superb depth of fruit (particularly for this sometimes "simple" vintage), medium-to-full body, and admirable length to its supple finish. Wine Advocate # 125 Oct 1999
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2000-2012

Tasting Notes:
This blockbuster wine possesses a profound nose. It exhibits awesomely ripe red and black fruits, raw meat, and Asian spices, all of which are encased in sweet toasty oak. This full-bodied, wide, thick, focused, harmonious, and intense wine releases amazingly powerful layers of candied black cherries and blackberries. It is structured, totally precise, pure, and possesses an exceptionally long finish loaded with abundant sweet tannins. It will require patience. Wine Advocate # 118 Aug 1998
Parker Points: 94-97
Drinking Period: 2005-2020

Tasting Notes:
This medium-to-dark ruby-colored wine has gorgeous floral, perfumed, spicy, and refined aromatics. Its medium-bodied and silky-textured palate offers a fabulous burst of sweet cherries, candied strawberries, and violets. This lively, highly-defined wine also possesses a firm, supple-tannined structure that should allow it to age gracefully for years. Wine Advocate # 118 Aug 1998
Parker Points: 90-92
Drinking Period: 1999-2008

Tasting Notes:
This bright ruby-colored wine's nose is magnificent. Its complex fragrances of perfume, roses, violets, crisp cherries, and cassis are intermingled with Asian spices, mocha, and faint hints of earth. Wow! Its aromas merit a score in the upper-90s! As often happens with wines from this vineyard, it is more appealing aromatically than gustatorily. That being said, this wine has a dense, ripe, and expressive character. It is a delicious, medium-to-full-bodied, refined, highly-delineated, and toasty cherry-flavored offering. Drink (and smell!) it between 2002 and 2012. Wine Advocate # 118 Aug 1998
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2002-2012

Tasting Notes:
This wine is mind-boggling and has gathered even more body, power, and density than it displayed from barrel. It is intensely profound, and super-ripe yet harmonious. Its extraordinarily long finish (it tails off with a sweet kirsch kiss) flabbergasted me. I could not help but think of the finishes of two wines I love - Chateau Rayas and Chateau Lafleur. It appears to be holding an enormous amount in reserve, and may ultimately merit higher ratings. It should be held at least ten years, and will easily last through 2020 given proper cellar conditions. Bravo!Wine Advocate # 118 Aug 1998
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2008 - 2020

Tasting Notes:
The Romanee-Conti is extremely backward, tightly knit, and closed, with hard tannin, an excellent to outstanding mouthfeel, and a nearly impenetrable personality. Although this is usually a fragrant, intensely-perfumed wine, the closed, tight 1993 exhibits few aromatics, medium body, and huge tannin. It needs 8-10 years of cellaring. While it will last 25-30 years, it is tough to judge just how good this wine will be. The score reflects the vineyard and historic reputation as much as what I was able to taste in the bottle. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983.Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 91
Drinking Period: 2003 - 2025

Tasting Notes:
The Grands-Echezeaux is fuller, sweeter, and more concentrated than the Echezeaux. It reveals a healthy dark ruby color, an attractive nose of red and black fruits and pain grillee, followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated style with a firm, well-delineated, focused personality, and moderate tannin in the finish. It is a 15-year wine that requires another 5-6 years of patience. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2000-2010

Tasting Notes:
As usual, La Tache reveals the most saturated deep ruby color of the DRC's, a tight but promising nose of smoky, game-like aromas intertwined with red and black fruits, minerals, and vanillin from new oak. Medium to full-bodied, with sweet, concentrated, berry fruit, this tannic, spicy, backward wine appears to possess the requisite extraction to ensure a long, positive evolution. Give it 7-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 12-15 years. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. PRODUCTION: 1,498 cases. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2002-2020

Tasting Notes:
As usual, La Tache reveals the most saturated deep ruby color of the DRC's, a tight but promising nose of smoky, game-like aromas intertwined with red and black fruits, minerals, and vanillin from new oak. Medium to full-bodied, with sweet, concentrated, berry fruit, this tannic, spicy, backward wine appears to possess the requisite extraction to ensure a long, positive evolution. Give it 7-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 12-15 years. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. PRODUCTION: 1,498 cases. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2002-2020

Tasting Notes:
As usual, La Tache reveals the most saturated deep ruby color of the DRC's, a tight but promising nose of smoky, game-like aromas intertwined with red and black fruits, minerals, and vanillin from new oak. Medium to full-bodied, with sweet, concentrated, berry fruit, this tannic, spicy, backward wine appears to possess the requisite extraction to ensure a long, positive evolution. Give it 7-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 12-15 years. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. PRODUCTION: 1,498 cases. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2002-2020

Tasting Notes:
As usual, La Tache reveals the most saturated deep ruby color of the DRC's, a tight but promising nose of smoky, game-like aromas intertwined with red and black fruits, minerals, and vanillin from new oak. Medium to full-bodied, with sweet, concentrated, berry fruit, this tannic, spicy, backward wine appears to possess the requisite extraction to ensure a long, positive evolution. Give it 7-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 12-15 years. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. PRODUCTION: 1,498 cases. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 2002-2020

Tasting Notes:
The Echezeaux is usually DRC's lightest wine. The 1991 displays a deep ruby color, a tight but promising bouquet of smoky oak and rich red and black fruits, and moderate tannin in the finish. More backward and dense than normal, it should be at its best between 1996-2008. Wine Advocate # 90 Dec 1993
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 1996-2008

Tasting Notes:
The Grands Echezeaux is broader than the Echezeaux, with more black-raspberry and black-cherry elements in its smoky, exotic nose, as well as a longer, more opulent and fleshy finish. Slightly superior to the Echezeaux, its lifeline should be similar - between 1995-2010 . 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
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 1995-2010

Tasting Notes:
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 # E2002 Feb 2002
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2004-2015

Tasting Notes:
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 # E2002 Feb 2002
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2004-2015

Tasting Notes:
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 # E2002 Feb 2002
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2004-2015

Tasting Notes:
PRODUCTION: 1,711 cases. The 1989 exhibits a healthy dark ruby color, followed by a smoky, oak-dominated nose with obvious ripe black fruit that is currently taking a back seat to the wine's wood and structure. Medium to full-bodied, with excellent to outstanding concentration, as well as more noticeable acidity than was evident from barrel, and a tendency to narrow out on the palate, this is a highly promising La Tache that appears to be better than the monolithic, perplexingly simple 1988. Give it 1-2 more years of cellaring and drink it over the following 10-12. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 1996-2009

Tasting Notes:
In 1988 there are 575 cases of Romanee-Conti. Consumers should be deliriously happy, considering there were only 225 cases in 1987. It is more backward than the 1987, 1986, or 1985, and is one of the fullest and most tannic examples of Romanee-Conti I have tasted this decade. It may even outlive the otherworldly 1985. It is staggeringly concentrated with a bouquet that almost defies articulation. There is no doubting what it is and who made it. It is a flashy, dramatic wine with astonishing length and mystique. I would not dare touch a bottle before the mid- to late nineties. The prices for the wines of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti may be exorbitant but the quality of the wines produced in the eighties is truly remarkable. The 1988s are celestial wines selling at stratospheric prices. The 1988 production was twice what it was in 1987, but the same as in 1985. The 1988s are fuller-bodied, deeper, more concentrated wines than the superb 1987s, and will need some time in the cellar to shed their generous amounts of tannin. The only vintage they can be favorably compared with is the 1985 vintage, and the 1985s were a great deal more forward and flattering to taste when young. There is more depth in the 1988s than in the 1986s or even the superb 1980s (which turned out to be the finest wines made in that underrated vintage).
Parker Points: 97
Drinking Period: 1995-

Tasting Notes:
Extremely concentrated, exotic, and sensationally perfumed, with its telltale bouquet of oriental spices, toasty vanillin oak, berry fruit, and plums, this wine had fabulous gingery, cinnamon flavors as well as astonishing length. It is one of the most unique tasting experiences in the world. It is all pleasure, finesse, complexity and richness, and my feeling is that it is clearly the best wine this domaine has made in 1987. There are 225 cases to be allocated throughout the world. In many vintages it is difficult to say that the Romanee-Conti is the best wine produced at the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, but in 1987 it is utterly compelling. My notes indicate that it is more evolved and precocious than either La Tache, Richebourg, or Grands Echezeaux. Burgundy Book # B2 Jan 1990
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period:  -

Tasting Notes:
The Romanee St.-Vivant may turn out to be entirely too tannic for its own good, but time will tell. Admittedly I tasted it within 2 months of being bottled so perhaps it was in an awkward stage as a result of recent bottling. However, my notes on the wine out of cask also raised the same specter of the wine's being too tannic and hard for the amount of fruit. At the present time, this seems to be the only wine from the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti that is not profound or potentially superb. Burgundy Book # B2 Jan 1990
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period:  -

Tasting Notes:
PRODUCTION: Not available. The fully mature 1987 La Tache exhibits a medium ruby color with some amber at the edge. The tell-tale DRC nose of smoky, gamy scents intertwined with those of ripe berry fruit and herbs is followed by a wine with noticeably high acidity, good weight, full body, and some tannin to shed. The wine should drink well for another 7-8 years, although the acidity may begin to dominate the fruit. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 1995-2003

Tasting Notes:
PRODUCTION: Not available. The fully mature 1987 La Tache exhibits a medium ruby color with some amber at the edge. The tell-tale DRC nose of smoky, gamy scents intertwined with those of ripe berry fruit and herbs is followed by a wine with noticeably high acidity, good weight, full body, and some tannin to shed. The wine should drink well for another 7-8 years, although the acidity may begin to dominate the fruit. Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 1995-2003

Tasting Notes:
This offering has an absolutely glorious nose of oriental spices, sweet black fruits, smoke, and earth. In the mouth, it is opulent and rich, with super-ripe fruit and a silky texture. This fabulous wine is showing even better than I would have thought. Drink it over the next 10 years. Wine Advocate # 80 Apr 1992
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 1992-2002

Tasting Notes:
PRODUCTION: 1,624 cases. A brilliant wine from cask, the 1985 La Tache remains expansive and fragrant, but bottle age appears to have given the wine more delicacy and lightness. The color is an extremely light ruby, with no signs of age. The nose offers up gobs of sweet, overripe red and black fruits intertwined with smoky, toasty new oak. On the palate, there is sweet, jammy fruit, full body, a harmonious interaction of tannin, acidity, and fruit, and a luscious, silky-textured finish. Given my high praise for this wine, I would have hoped for more, but performances such as this are further proof that Burgundy is indeed the wine for free-spending masochists. This wine should continue to drink well for another 5-7 years, but it needs to be closely monitored given the fact that in 1995 it exhibits less weight and depth than I would have anticipated. Although it is unquestionably an outstanding wine, I had hoped for something riveting.Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 1995 - 2002

Tasting Notes:
PRODUCTION: 1,479 cases. Very sweet, extremely alcoholic, yet also somewhat fuzzy and lacking precision, the 1971 La Tache is still an outstanding wine because of its voluptuous texture, and thick, juicy, succulent flavors. The color is nearly brown, but the nose remains intense and provocative. This wine is living on borrowed time as there is little grip or structure. Run, don't walk, to guzzle this vintage Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 90
Drinking Period: 1992-1994