Domaine de la Romanée Conti

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti - The crowning glory of Burgundian viticulture

The philosophy - minimalism and perfectionism

What sets DRC apart from other top wineries is its radical focus on the essentials. The grapes are painstakingly harvested by hand, often in several passes, in order to use only the perfect berries. Vinification is traditional, with a long maceration period and natural fermentation, without excessive technical intervention. The ageing in new oak (usually between 80-100%) is perfectly balanced so that the wood never overpowers the fruit.

Biodynamic cultivation, which has been practised for years, is also a decisive factor. The DRC does not use herbicides or synthetic pesticides, works with natural preparations and respects the rhythms of nature. This method may seem esoteric to some, but the result speaks for itself: wines of unrivalled purity and expressiveness.

The wines - a sensory revelation

Opening a bottle of Romanée-Conti or La Tâche is no ordinary wine experience - it is a meditation. Young vintages can still seem closed, but with time they unfold a firework of aromas: ripe red and black fruits, rose petals, oriental spices, damp earth, truffles and an unmistakable mineral character. On the palate, they are dense but never heavy, with a floating elegance and a finish that seems to last forever.

The best vintages (such as 1945, 1978, 1990, 1999, 2005, 2015) are among the most sought-after wines in the world and regularly reach prices in excess of 50,000 euros per bottle at auction. But beyond their financial value, these wines are above all a symbol of the highest art of viticulture.

The DRC as a cultural phenomenon

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has long been more than just a winery - it is a symbol of luxury, exclusivity and master craftsmanship. Its wines are served in the best restaurants in the world, treasured by collectors and cited in wine books as the measure of all things. Yet despite its elite reputation, the DRC remains surprisingly down-to-earth. There are no pompous marketing campaigns, no artificial scarcity - just the tireless pursuit of the best possible wine.

Conclusion - The pinnacle of viticulture

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti epitomises what is possible in viticulture when tradition, passion and nature are in perfect harmony. Its wines are not status objects, but living testimonies to a unique terroir. If you are lucky enough to taste a DRC wine, you will not only experience a great drop, but also a piece of Burgundian history.

In a world where wine often becomes speculation or self-promotion, the DRC is a reminder that true greatness is created in silence - through patience, respect for nature and infinite attention to detail. It is and remains the undisputed queen of Burgundy.

Here are some tasting notes of the Romanee Conti wines:

Domaine de La Romanée Conti - La Romanee Conti 1937

Broadbent review: Romanee-Conti 1937 - A great wine. I first tasted it in 1957 at dinner with a client, a Cheshire fruit grower with a fabulous cellar. I quote from volume 3 of my tasting notes: "Big and black, austere and concentrated; sweetish, intensely flavoured. On the same level as the 1945 Mouton. Good for at least another ten years" (I had only been in the wine business for five years). Next at Christie's in 1972, then seven years later at a dinner in the Christie's boardroom: "Still quite deep ... overripe and gamey on the nose, but opulently rich and attractive ... the flavour seemed to expand and get richer in the glass." Later, a magnum that literally outperformed more than 60 red 1937s from Bordeaux at a Rodenstock wine weekend: quite deep, warm, autumnal colour; ripe, rich, classic, Pinot-typical "beetroot" bouquet, fragrant, persistent; very "sweet", full-bodied and rich in substance. Like the dance of the seven veils, a little more of this wine revealed itself with every cautious breath and sip.

Domaine Romanée Conti - La Romanee Conti 1943

Broadbent rating ****(4) stars: Still from ungrafted vines. Original wax seal with embossing, label, marked cork, fairly good fill level 5cm below the cork. Medium-pale colour, orange rim and reddish glints; initially closed but healthy, rich, biscuity, fleshy after 30 minutes, fully developed an hour later, a perfect old Pinot aroma that faded after two hours; distinctly sweet, ripe flavour, full maturity, fairly good length and appealing finish. From a very good private cellar in San Francisco, tasted in March 1997 at Christie's in Londen ****(4) stars.

Domaine de La Romanée Conti - La Romanee Conti 1945

Romanée Conti also had an astonishingly dense colour in 2002, but also noticeable age and excessive acidity, nevertheless very nice, got better and better in the glass, tobacco, ripe Pinot 95/100 (source: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).

Domaine Romanee Conti - La Tâche 1951

Burgundy also suffered from the weather, but was still good for a few surprises. I would have spontaneously put a La Tâche, drunk in November 2001 for the 50th birthday of a good wine friend, into several, more recent great Burgundy years, but never after 1951. Healthy colour with clear brown tones, quite wonderful, great Burgundy, fine sweetness, with all finesse but also power, a wine almost to chew, great - 96/100! (Source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).

Domaine de La Romanee Conti - Richebourg 1964

Robert Parker : 92/100 (04-1992) Last Tasted 12/91 An exotic nose of soy sauce, earthy fruit, and vegetal sweet Pinot aromas is followed by a sweet, full-bodied, concentrated wine with low acidity and plenty of alcohol in the finish.

Domaine Romanee Conti - La Romanée Conti 1985

Huge in 1985 is the La Tâche from DRC. In 2001 at a blind tasting, this was a great Rhone wine for me, spicy, dense, crazy nose, complex, lush, full-bodied, exotic - 97/100. A year later at a DRC tasting, I liked it better than Romanee Conti at a similar level in direct comparison. It doesn't have to stay that way. The latter presented itself with a strong Burgundy stinker, was still at the very beginning with a lot of potential - 95/100. The Richebourg from DRC was also great in the summer of 2005. A still very young and almost somewhat impetuous, dense wine with perfect flavour and eternal length on the palate. Still has a lot of ageing potential - 96/100. In a 2006 tasting, I thought the Grands Echezeaux from DRC was much older. A damn ripe colour with clear brown tones, peppery nose, spicy, great aromas and complexity, multi-layered fruit, would also pass as a great 59 with great length and finesse. Fascinating how this wine developed and matured in the glass - 94/100. (Source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).

Domaine Romanée Conti - La Tâche 1988

Broadbent rating: At the inaugural tasting in 1990: deep, quite intense colour; full of exotic Pinot aromas and flavours. Elegant. Great length, silky tannins. In January and March 1991: bright cherry red colour; lively, fragrant; concentrated, spicy, intense, very tannic. Recently at Wagner's vertical tasting: not so deep now, some ripeness; vegetal Pinot aroma "sweet", like slightly burnt caramel; sweaty tannins, but after an hour in the glass with strawberry-like fruit, later still spicy. Quite "sweet", penetrating, savoury fruit and some astringency. Last tasted in April 1998 **(***) Around 2008 to 2020

DRC epitomises the absolute pinnacle of viticulture - where terroir, craftsmanship and mysticism merge perfectly. Each bottle is both a work of art and an investment. Often out of reach for mere mortals, DRC remains the dream of every wine lover.