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Tasting notes
The breed and elegance of Romanée-Conti are immediately apparent from the detailed aromatic palette of the 2011 that ranges from pomegranate to blackcurrant, accented with notes of smoke, earth, star anise, and a suggestion of lavender. The aromas are elegant and somewhat restrained but continue to open up with time in the glass. The texture is firm and compact, yet there is nothing astringent or hard about the wine – it is starting to be approachable even now but will continue to age and improve for decades. Picked 6 September; 5,673 bottles produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
A fascinating, utterly contemplative Burgundy, the Romanée-Conti is quite dark and much more tannic at this stage than it usually is. Graphite, wild herbs, tar, plums and flowers meld together in a mysterious Burgundy endowed with considerable depth and power. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow over the coming years and decades.
The 2011 Romanee-Conti was picked on 6 September at 26.83hl/ha. As usual, the Romanee-Conti is reticent at first, as if the wine is checking you out before deciding whether you are worthy. It then unfurls to reveal a precise, exquisitely focused bouquet with crushed strawberry, flint and smoke. The palate is devastatingly smooth on the entry. The tannins are lace-like, the acidity perfectly judged and it gently crescendos in the mouth towards a seductive poised finish that lingers incredibly long. This is a master-class in ‘less being more’: a consummate Romanee-Conti for mid- rather than long-term cellaring. 473 cases produced.
Discreet wood sets off a wonderfully elegant, airy and ultra-pure dark pinot fruit nose that is perhaps even more reticent and shut down than the La Tâche and only seriously aggressive swirling can reveal stubborn notes of rose petal, spice and menthol influence. The ultra-silky but firm medium-scaled flavors are also blessed with an impressive abundance of dry extract that buffers the prominent but ripe supporting tannins on the moderately austere, deep and palate coating finish. The length here is genuinely amazing, indeed even at this early juncture this is already the longest wine in the range. As it virtually always is at this point in its development, this is an exercise in understatement, poise and controlled power with an unrivaled purity of expression. In sum, this is Zen-like. As to whether it will ultimately be better than the La Tâche in 2011 remains to be seen but for now the two seem to be neck and neck from a purely qualitative perspective. Drink: 2031+
About the producer
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or simply “DRC” is without doubt the most famous domaine in Burgundy and one of the most famous producers on earth. The Grand Cru vineyard from which it takes its name produces the world’s most expensive wine by a long margin.