Romanée Conti is not only the name of the most famous vineyard in the world, but also the name of probably the best producer there is!
In the town of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy is the famous producer Domaine de la Romanée Conti, which takes its name from the aforementioned vineyard. Domaine de la Romanée Conti has a long and illustrious history that has resulted in DRC wines, as they are referred to, being widely recognized as some of the most unique in the world, both as a drinking experience and as an investment opportunity.
The history of Domaine de la Romanée Conti
Domaine de la Romanée Conti has a long and unique history. The history of the world's most prestigious producer goes back more than 8 centuries and 9 owners. The Vergy family owned the property in the 12th century, which was later taken over by M. Croonembourg in 1631. He changed the name of the winery to Romanée, which was the starting point for the house's good reputation.
In 1760 the estate was sold to Louis-François de Bourbon - then Prince of Conti. He added his own name to La Romanée, which is how the winery has been known ever since. He also acquired plots in the Richebourg and Echézeaux vineyards.
Today, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is managed by Aubert de Villaine and Henri Roch. De Villaine's father and Roch's grandfather bought the property in 1942. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti owns the vineyards of la Romanée-Conti and la Tâche.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is now run by Aubert de Villaine and Henri Roch, who have taken over the vineyard from their family. Aubert De Villaine's father and Henri Roch's maternal grandfather purchased the property in 1942. Today, Domane La Romanée Conti owns vineyards in some of the most prestigious areas and fields in Burgundy, including La Romanée Conti and la Tâche.
In addition, the winery today also has a share in Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux, Romanée-St.-Vivant and Richebourg, as well as a small share of le Montrachet.
Domaine de la Romanée Conti
Incredibly, the Domaine de la Romanée Conti winery has been owned by the same family since 1869, and looks set to remain so for many years to come. Rumors of a takeover have often rife in the small streets of Vosne-Romanée, but the family has now established a company that should be able to resist acquisition.
It has long been the case that each branch of the family had a leader responsible for the day-to-day operations, and that is still the case. It provides a healthy balance that keeps things running according to plan.
The story of the two families
Since the early 1970s, the domain has been managed by Aubert de Villaine, who is today the face of the winery. Aubert de Villaine's co-manager at the beginning of the period was Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy. Together, these two were responsible for the domain's transition to organic farming and improved control of the processes in the vineyard. Unfortunately, the partnership ended in 1992 due to internal conflicts, but Madame Leroy still owns 25% of the domain. Today, the other co-manager of the winery is Perrine Fenal, who is the daughter of Lalou Bize-Leroy.
Since 1869, Domaine de la Romanée Conti has belonged to the Villaine family, which Jacques-Marie Duvalt bought back in 1869. The domain has been passed down through several generations, and today the domain is, as mentioned, represented by Aubert de Villaine. In 1942, the then owner Jacques Chambron sold his share of the company to Henri Leroy - Madame Leroy's father.
Vosne-Romanée
Vosne-Romanée is the finest commune in all of Burgundy. The commune is located between Gevrey and Chambolle, and ties the two areas together in the most elegant way imaginable. These are rich and dark wines with a velvety feel. The overall quality is incredibly high, and at this level you can also expect the price to follow.
Despite the fact that four out of six grand cru vineyards are controlled by only one producer, namely Domaine de la Romanée Conti, there are over 40 wine producers in the commune.
In the Vosne-Romanee commune, only the Pinot Noir grape is planted, which is true across most of Burgundy. Together with Chardonnay, it is the region's main grape.
The 2005 and 2015 vintages are considered the best vintages in Vosne-Romanée in the last 20 years, but many other vintages are also doing well.
Romanee Conti
The Romanee Conti vineyard is the most renowned and mysterious of its kind in Vosne-Romanée. The vineyard consists of just 1.8 hectares, owned as a monopoly by Domaine de la Romanee Conti.
In 1947, all the vines were replanted, and they are therefore more than 75 years old. Only a meager 5,400 bottles are produced on average per year, and the wines are some of the most expensive in the world. In 2018, a whopping 558,000 USD was paid for a bottle of wine, making it the most expensive wine ever.
The Romanee Conti vineyard is known for the elegance of its wines, often described as the epitome of Pinot Noir. The vineyard is located on a steep slope with a southeasterly exposure, and the soil is a mixture of clay and limestone. The climate is relatively cool, which helps to preserve the delicate aromas of the Pinot Noir grapes.
The Task
La Tâche is a vineyard in the Côte de Nuits sub-region of Burgundy, France. The vineyard is owned by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which also owns the nearby Romanée-Conti vineyard. The estate is considered by wine connoisseurs to be the most elegant, and only slightly behind Romanée-Conti in quality. The vineyard's status as a monopoly in the commune of Vosne-Romanée means that no other producers are allowed to use the name "La Tâche" for their wines.
La Tâche is 6.06 hectares in size, and the vines on the field are around 60 years old on average. Around 20,000 bottles are produced annually.
Richebourg
The Richebourg vineyard is 3.51 hectares with an average of 50 years old vines. Domaine de la Romanée Conti produces an average of 12,000 bottles per year from this vineyard. A volume of 12,000 bottles per year is at the low end of Vosne-Romanée.
Richebourg is located in the commune of Vosne-Romanée on the border of the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. The vineyard faces southeast and the soil consists of clay and limestone.
The Richebourg vineyard is known for its wines with aromas of violets and raspberries. The wines are powerful and tannic, but with good acidity that provides balance.
Romanee Saint-Vivant
The Romanée Saint-Vivant vineyard is 5.28 hectares, where the vines vary greatly in age. Recently, some of the vines were replanted, as the old versions did not give the desired quality and expression in the wine.
The youngest vines are sold as Vosne-Romanée 1'er Cru. Approximately 18,000 bottles are produced on average per year from the vineyard. The wine has a beautiful elegance with a beautiful finish, which has made the wine appreciated worldwide.
Grands Echezeaux
The Grand Échezeaux vineyard consists of 3.52 hectares, and the vines here are more than 60 years old. Wines from this vineyard are considered the wild card in the range at Domaine de la Romanée Conti. Just under 14,000 bottles are produced annually from here.
A Grand Échezeaux wine is a wine that benefits from aging for many months and years. Depending on the vintage, a longer period of aging contributes to more depth and robustness.
Echezeaux
Échezeaux is, like the above, a Grand Cru vineyard. The vines here are approximately 40 years old, and the wines from this vineyard are described as the little brother of the Grand Échezeaux wines. The wine can be described as a lighter version of its big brother, Grand Échezeaux.
How is Romanée Conti produced?
For decades, the world-famous vineyards have been maintained and cared for according to all the rules of the art, and they have been organically certified for many years. Biodynamic principles have been introduced in recent years, but this does not mean that Aubert de Villaine follows all the many biodynamic characteristics. The reason for introducing some of the biodynamic principles is simply because biodynamics improves the vineyards and gives them a better natural environment to grow in.
All grapes are hand-picked at harvest, which usually begins about 14 days after all other popular producers in the area.
This gives the grapes more time to ripen on the vine, which is essential for high-quality Pinot Noir.
When all the grapes come back to the vineyard, they work according to the traditional methods, which the cellar master follows to the letter. In recent years, they have started to experiment with other temperatures, new percentages of stems in the important must during the fermentation itself and much more. Aubert de Villaine wants to do a little bit of work on the must in this process, as she believes this is best for this type of wine.
The wine is aged in new oak barrels from the renowned François Frères in Saint-Romain. The wine is then typically aged for 16 to 18 months before being bottled.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red wine grape grown in the Burgundy region of France. The grape is known for its delicate flavor and bouquet, and it is one of the most popular red wine varieties. The grapes are relatively small and round, and they have a thin skin. The grapes are often used to make light-bodied red wines, although some Pinot Noirs can be full-bodied. Pinot Noir wines are typically ruby red in color, and they have aromas of strawberries, cherries, and other red fruits. The wines are typically dry, with moderate acidity and soft tannins. The grape pairs well with a wide variety of foods, making it a versatile choice for any occasion. A good piece of meat with an intense sauce is an obvious match.
Romanee Conti wine
Romanée Conti Grand Cru is the top wine in the Domaine de la Romanée Conti range. The wine is only produced in the best vintages, ensuring that the quality always follows the high price.
Domaine de la Romanée Conti Romanée Conti Garnd Cru 2016
Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 2016 is a very harmonious and rich type of bottle, which is a true masterpiece. The Pinto Noir grape shines through beautifully, and has a reserved fruit. Wines like this are well suited to users who want a top wine without comparison.
Robert Parker
"The 2016 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is a worthy successor to the profound 2015, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, peony, dark chocolate, cinnamon and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and satiny, with an ineffable sense of completeness, searing concentration without weight, a vibrant, indeed animating line of acidity, and a long, expansive finish that concludes with a judicious touch of mouthwatering bitterness. Wines like this are the foundation of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's reputation."
Buy wines from Domaine de la Romanée Conti
If you are looking to buy a Romanée Conti Grand Cru or any of the other Romanée Conti wines, please feel free to contact us by sending a message via email or giving us a call.
In addition to wines from Romanee Conti, we also have a large selection of other top wines from around the world. We always have the opportunity to obtain bottles from world-renowned producers such as Chateau Latour, Petrus, Conterno and the like.
