Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Corton Grand Cru 2009

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The debut vintage sourced from leased vineyard belonging to Domaine Prince Florent de Merode, including 0.57 hectares of Clos du Roi, 1.2 hectares of Bressandes and 0.5 hectares from Renardes. Noticeably deeper in colour, the 2009 has a lifted, very seductive bouquet with intense aromas of wild strawberry and blueberry, polished with a patina of creamy new oak. It is very seductive, a bouquet that wants to make an impression. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, edgy tannins and a lovely citric edge that lends this freshness and vitality. With Aubert de Villaine’s touch, it is a less “chunky” Corton vis-a-vis other producers. There is fine weight and backbone towards the finish that demonstrates perfect dryness and reserve. This marks an excellent maiden Corton. Tasted February 2012.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Corton, here in its first vintage, is a wine that has very high expectations pinned on it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the prestige the Domaine is sure to bring to the appellation following its recent purchase of three vineyards in Corton. It shows a rich core of dark red fruit that powers through to the finish with tons of authority and concentration. The Corton is a solid wine from start to finish, but it also possesses beautifully delineated aromatics and tons of potential. This will be a fascinating wine to follow over the coming years. The early accessibility that defines some of the Domaine's other -entry-level- wines is nowhere to be found, however, so readers will need to be patient. The Corton is a blend of parcels in Clos du Roi, Bressandes and Renardes. The old-vine fruit from all three vineyards is harvested and vinified together. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2059. -Fasten your seatbelt- says de Villaine as we approach the 2009 Grand Crus from the Cote de Nuits. The historic Domaine de la Romanee-Conti has recently moved offices to a renovated complex in the center of Vosne. Aubert de Villaine compares the 2009s to the 1959s. I will have to take his word for it, as I wasn't even close to being born when those wines were made. De Villaine thinks the 2009s will remain open throughout their lives. Unfortunately I wasn't able to taste the Grands-Echezeaux, Richebourg and Romanee-St. Vivant, as the wines were bottled in the days leading up to my visit. I will report on those wines from bottle later this year. The harvest started on September 10 with Corton and ended on September 19 with the last of the Echezeaux. The 2009s were vinified with 100% whole clusters and aged in 100% new oak barrels. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Corton is a showstopper. The huge, boisterous bouquet is the first sign the Corton is just as dazzling from bottle as it was from barrel. Layers of fruit saturate the palate as this flashy, exuberant wine continues to put on weight as it sits in the glass. This is a decidedly opulent Burgundy that pushes the boundaries of what longtime DRC drinkers expect from the winery, but it is a gorgeous, striking wine in its own way. The 2009 is a great first vintage for the Corton. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s 2009s have turned out just as brilliantly as I had hoped. The wines reflect the signature qualities of the year, but never lose their essential classicism. Long-time DRC fans know the domaine bottles in six-barrel lots, which naturally introduces a level of bottle variation that is not found in most other wines. I hope the massive amount of information that has recently come to light regarding counterfeit wines and their proliferation might be the catalyst for the domaine to consider bottling their wines in one homogenous lot, as is common for the vast majority of high-quality wines throughout the world. Once the domaine’s wines mature in 20-30 years it will be impossible to tell the difference between ‘normal’ bottle variation, poorly stored bottles and very good fakes. Certainly consumers who are willing and able to pay the prices these wines fetch are at the very least deserving of a consistent product. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661