Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Echezeaux Grand Cru 2008

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted out of barrel at the Domaine. The Echezeaux had just been racked when I tasted this out of barrel. Nonetheless, it could not disguise its lithe, comely bouquet with fresh cranberry, pomegranate and blood orange, then a hint of linden leaf with aeration. Very good definition. The palate is very well balanced, noticeably darker in fruit than the Vosne 1er Cru with hints of dark cherry and blueberry towards the talcum finish, the acidity lending poise and focus on the aftertaste. Great potential. Tasted November 2009.

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Now in bottle, the Echezeaux has a fragrant bouquet, coquettish at first, with touches of pomegranate, cranberry leaf a faint puff of smoke. I appreciate the delineation here, not a powerful perfume, but subtle and tertiary, mellowing with time in the glass and gaining more cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins on the entry, crisp tart red cherries intermingling with wild strawberry, leading to a precise finish that tapers away just a little too quickly. But still, this is fresh and vigourous: an Echezeaux built for pleasure rather than philosophizing over. Drink 2013-2020. Tasted January 2011.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2008 Echezeaux is a noticeable step up in quality from the Vosne-Romanee. This is a decidedly rich, powerful Echezeaux endowed with considerable muscle. The aromas and flavors build beautifully towards a dazzling, harmonious finish. The 2008 is a big Echezeaux that could use further time in the cellar. There is plenty of underlying structure to support a long life in the cellar. The 2008 is seriously impressive. If any wine can be said to represent ‘value’ among the Domaine’s 2008s, the Echezeaux is it. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. tasted the 2008s in bottle in late June 2011 after having gone through the 2010s from barrel. Aubert de Villaine describes 2008 as a difficult vintage with a lot of rain. Botrytis was an issue and the vineyards required constant attention. On September 14 the weather changed dramatically. A steady north wind dried out the grapes and concentrated sugars quickly, which also reduced the size of the berries. A further selection of fruit lowered yields to an even greater extent, resulting in overall production that is as much as 50% lower than normal for the Domaine. As for the wines, they are magnificent in my view, but will require considerable patience. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661