Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Echezeaux Grand Cru 2009

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Echezeaux 2009 has a fragrant, tertiary bouquet with redcurrant, cranberry and notes of freshly tilled earth. Fine definition although it is a little reticent at the moment, even compared to the Duvault-Blochet. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy cranberry and wild strawberry fruit, maintaining that earthy character with a “stemmy” note in the background. It is a harmonious Echezeaux but perhaps a little more masculine that I anticipated, suggesting that it my surprise by its longevity. It is very composed and gains a little weight with time in the glass. Tasted February 2012.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Echezeaux floats on the palate with inimitable grace and class. It shows dazzling purity in its dark red berries, crushed flowers and sweet spices. At once weightless yet substantial, the 2009 Echezeaux capture all of the qualities that make the Domaine's wines so incredibly appealing. A delicate, harmonious finish makes it hard to resist a second taste. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. 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_parker94

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2009 Échézeaux Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with a deep-pitched bouquet of wild berries and plums mingled with peonies, exotic spices and hints of wood smoke. Full-bodied, deep and complete, with velvety tannins and an enveloping core of fruit, it's sumptuous but serious, with lively acids and a long, resonant finish. This is a concentrated, youthfully muscular Échézeaux that is still a few years away from showing all its cards.

robert_parker91

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

This is not a great showing for the 2009 Echezeaux. Today the structural elements seem to dominate the wine’s balance. I find little of the seduction and charm the Echezeaux showed when its was in barrel. It is hard to believe this is a representative bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. 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

vinous91

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

This is not a great showing for the 2009 Echézeaux. Today the structural elements seem to dominate the wine's balance. I find little of the seduction and charm the Echezeaux showed when its was in barrel. It is hard to believe this is a representative bottle.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

‘Fasten your seatbelt' says de Villaine as we approach The 2009 grand crus from the Côte de 86 Nuits. The 2009 Echézeaux floats on the palate with inimitable grace and class. This shows dazzling purity in its dark red berries, crushed flowers and sweet spices. At once weightless yet substantial, The 2009 Echézeaux capture all of the qualities that make the Domaine's wines so incredibly appealing. A delicate, harmonious finish makes it hard to resist a second taste.

vinous91

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Good bright, dark red. High-pitched, expressive aromas of raspberry, strawberry, minerals, pepper, wild herbs and flowers. Initially quite tight and peppery, with a dry-edged character, this slightly raw wine expanded somewhat with aeration. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and an impression of peppery austerity. The most inscrutable of this set of wines today.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Good bright deep red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, licorice, violet and bitter chocolate. Much sweeter than the Corton on entry, but a saline, savory quality leavens the wine's thickness. The classically dry finish is youthfully clenched today, displaying lovely rising length, very good grip and a trace of bitter chocolate.