Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 1990

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Domaine, the Richebourg 1990 has an ethereal bouquet that immediately indicates a warm vintage. Crushed strawberry, a touch of dark cherries, oyster shell and hints of Hoi Sin develop with a slight decayed quality indicating the age. The palate is a saline tang on the entry, fine sturdy tannins typical of Richebourg but without the finesse of say, La Tache. Crisp citrus peel enlivens the mouth with subtle notes of black truffle towards the finish. Very good length, but there is a rusticity to this Richebourg that is perhaps polished away by Aubert de Villaine nowadays. Tasted November 2010.

robert_parker0

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Could this live up to its billing? Well it certainly did not compared to the wonderful Echezeaux DRC 90. The nose is backward, complex with green pepper and dried blood. Leaving the glass for over one hour a burnt caramel note developed. The palate lacked that lavish, sumptuous quality that the "lesser" DRC displayed. A little volatile acidity detracts from the harmony I was expecting. Good concentration but it seems disjointed and awkward at the moment. A question of storage? I preferred the Musigny 92 from de Vogue to this. I am certain another bottle would be better - not that I anticipate one in the near future. Tasted October 2003.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The last time that I drank the 1990 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was at the domaine in 2010. Five years on it remains a lovely Richebourg. Clear and quite deep in color, the bouquet remains "ethereal" with crushed strawberries and pomegranate fruit intermixed with iron, black truffle and a touch of pain d'épices. It is understated at first ,but after 30 minutes it had manifested the sense of grandeur you expect from a Richebourg. The palate is beautifully balanced with great depth and volume. There is that hint of black truffle coming through once more, as well as sour cherries, a hint of blueberry and an almost viscous, decadent finish that not so much caresses the sense but gives it a good "seeing to." This is probably the best bottle that I have tasted, and it should have another 20-30 years of pleasure to give. Tasted September 2016.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The DRC produced splendid wines in 1990, and the Richebourg is close to reaching its plateau of maturity. A dark ruby color reveals lightening at the edge. The stunning aromatics offer intense aromas of spring flowers, black fruits, licorice, and toasty new oak. Fleshy and medium to full-bodied, with a velvety-textured palate, and sweet fruit, this smoky, rich, complex red Burgundy can be drunk now and over the next decade.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The Richebourg is exceptionally fragrant, with aromas of sweet jammy raspberries, plums, oriental spices, and new oak, all of which soar from the glass. It is crammed with fruit, with a fat, opulent texture reminiscent of the 1985. The finish is rich, authoritative, and long. The tannins are firm, but appear less noticeable and softer than those of the Romanee St.-Vivant. The DRC 1990s, all of which were bottled in April/May, are among the deepest colored wines from this domaine that I have tasted in the last decade. Moreover, they are firmly structured, with significant tannins from both the vintage and from the aging in 100% new oak barrels. For the fortunate few who have had the discretionary income to afford the other great vintages of the DRC from the eighties, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1988, and 1989, the question is - are the 1990s superior? I am not sure they are any better than the 1980s, 1985, and 1988s, but they undoubtedly represent a classic, concentrated, long-lived style of wine. Moreover, all of these wines should have a more graceful evolution and broader window of drinkability than the tannic 1988s, as well as potentially greater longevity than the succulent and opulent 1985s. All of these offerings are outstanding, with that tell-tale complex, exotic fragrance that the DRC routinely achieves. NOTE: Prices had not been released (the wines will arrive in early 1993). I have inserted the same prices asked for the 1989 vintage as an approximation of what these wines will fetch. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 1990 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have been fortunate enough to taste three times before. It has a “spherical” nose, if you can picture that, and inside the sphere is copious red fruit laced with hints of traditional Japanese green tea, undergrowth and ferrous scents, as if part of this Richebourg was forged by a blacksmith. The palate is, as always, hugely powerful and yet paradoxically refined, with a smoothness that makes you feel giddy. It builds and builds in the mouth, revealing incredible volume toward the bravura finish. Immense. Tasted at the DRC/Leroy comparative dinner in Hong Kong.