Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2013

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked on the afternoon of October 6 and then the following morning, the yield delivering 21.5 hectoliters per hectare, higher than the Echézeaux. It has a vivid bouquet of Morello cherry, strawberry, crushed stone and just a touch of wilted rose petal, all beautifully defined and seeming to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is extremely well balanced and the acidity is well judged. There are earthy tones present, a hint of autumn woodland, a subtle but very attractive leafiness embroidered into the fruit. This is a very typical Grands Echézeaux, perhaps a little introspective compared to the more outgoing Echézeaux, but there is considerable length. Production is 782 cases. Tasted February 2016.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru is probably more expressive than the Echézeaux on the nose with heightened delineation. Here there is wonderful precision and penetration. A second barrel showed a more floral character, the fruit slightly redder than the first. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins. This is just full of energy percolating through the dark berry, bergamot and bilberry fruit, yet there is a firm grip on the masculine finish, the second barrel a touch suppler and pastille-like. This is an aristocractic Grands Echézeaux in the making.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2013 Grands-Échézeaux comes across as quite wild in its powerful, unrestrained personality. In recent vintages, the GE has become more polished, but the 2013 is a real brute today. Dark, savory almost Syrah-like notes take shape in the glass. Game, smoke, herbs and wild flowers wrap around the imposing, bracing finish. I expect the 2013 will require considerable bottle age to fully come together.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Healthy dark red. An initial note of reduction dissipated to reveal sexy scents of raspberry, blueberry, smoky minerals and Oriental spices. Densely packed and vibrant, with concentrated berry fruit accented by pepper and spices from the stems. Firm tannins will support slow development in bottle. There's way more inner-mouth tension and éclat here than I found in the Echézeaux. An outstanding vintage for this bottling.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep, dark red. Deep, ripe aromas of black raspberry and smoky minerality, along with a whiff of coffee reduction. Round, sweet and voluptuous; concentrated, large-scaled and mouthfilling but at the same time very refined. Showing more oak tannins today than the Echézeaux but has the depth of fleshy dark fruit to support its backbone.