Wine Advisor
Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 1999
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Oh yes. Oh yes, yes, yes. This 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru is a bit like a great athlete, one who really shows its class against stiff opposition, here in the form of 18 other Richebourg! It follows the same thread as the imperial 1999 La Tâche. It has been blessed with a sensational nose that boasts quite astonishing delineation and precision, fabulous mineralité. The aromatics are far more detailed and enthralling than the 2007 tasted alongside. The palate is beautifully structured, virtually symmetrical with filigree tannin, with a gentle crescendo in the mouth towards an effervescent finish with hints of orange peel. Simply effortless.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Bright ruby/garnet colour. The nose is quite reticent with faint notes of damp earth and ripe plums. Incredible concentration on palate that has immense complexity. Perfect marriage of power and elegance. Very pure and blackcurranty at the moment with a finish that goes on forever. (1,231 cases produced) Tasted February 2002.
Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani
Magnificent, the 1999 Richebourg has a saturated, dark ruby color. It explodes from the glass with loads of super-ripe, dark fruits, including blackberries, cassis, plums, and black cherries. This dense, plush, and broad wine has prodigious depth to its roasted red and black fruit-flavored personality. A myriad of spices can be found in its chewy-textured, full-bodied, highly concentrated, powerful character. Its extraordinarily long finish is dominated by fruit, yet copious quantities of sweet and supple tannin can be discerned. Projected maturity: 2006-2018. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 1999 Richebourg is simply majestic. In fact, 1999 may be a year in which the Richebourg is just a bit more complex than the La Tâche. Hoisin, smoke, exotic spices and rich, unctuous fruit flesh out in the glass. The 1999 has more than enough fruit to fill out its big, broad frame. It, too, will drink well for several decades.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
An utterly magnificent wine, the 1999 Richebourg plays in all dimensions, with expressive, lifted aromatics and huge, imposing structure. This is an especially ethereal Richebourg, where the characteristic power is more implied rather than overtly stated. Underlying veins of salinity propel the finish in an energetic Richebourg loaded with personality. In this tasting, the 1999 gives the impression of being a minimalist wine, with so much still to offer. Today, the 1999 is simply dazzling.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wonderful wine, even if this is not the best bottle that I have encountered. That is principally because the nose does not quite convey the crystalline purity of the previous example poured in Hong Kong. Although, the vibrant dark berry fruit and crushed stone aromas remains in situ. The palate has exquisite balance and poise, a wine of immense grandeur yet with elegance and energy in spades towards the finish. Tasted at the Amos Bursary charity dinner at 67 Pall Mall.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is bestowed with startling delineation on the nose, displaying chiseled aromas of dark berry fruit, briar, crushed stone and just a touch of rose petal. Like the greatest wines from this hallowed vineyard, it possesses a palpable sense of majesty and aristocracy, the crescendo of aromas rooting you to the spot and making you almost kowtow in deference. The palate has immense backbone and structure; think of the Forth Bridge, if you will. And underneath the blackberry and wild strawberry fruit lie fathomless notes of cold slate and damp autumnal woodland. The energy coiled inside this Richebourg is wonderful. In lesser hands, such a leviathan could be oppressive, but instead, you are overcome with joy and revelry. Stunning. Tasted at the DRC/Leroy comparative dinner in Hong Kong.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have tasted twice before. Here it retains that incredible, intense bouquet with dark cherry, crushed stone and mulberry, endowed with astounding mineralité, as if the terroir simply cannot be contained. The palate is tensile and youthful considering it is no longer a young pip, effortlessly combining the power you demand from a Richebourg and the elegance given by the winemaking. There is that crescendo that distinguishes the finest red burgundy and this is certainly from the top drawer. You can see this cruising at high altitude for many years. Tasted at the 1999 DRC dinner.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(13% natural alcohol, rare for this domain) Saturated ruby-red. Knockout, utterly noble nose of black plum, blackberry, violet, minerals, earth and flowers, plus an exotic suggestion of blood orange. Full, suave and dense; manages to be utterly silky and precise at the same time. Wonderfully fresh and perfumed in the mouth. Finishes with great mounting persistence and purity. This has the purple flavors I associated with great Richebourg. This utterly primary wine will develop in bottle for a long time.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Deep ruby-red. Explosive aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry, violet, bitter chocolate and sappy spices. Strong kirsch flavor complicated by a deep core of spice. Finishes with big but fine tannins. From another barrel, just racked last week: Sweeter, more seductive fruit of outstanding intensity. Very subtle and long, with powerful tannins.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is bestowed with startling delineation on the nose, displaying chiseled aromas of dark berry fruit, briar, crushed stone and just a touch of rose petal. Like the greatest wines from this hallowed vineyard, it possesses a palpable sense of majesty and aristocracy, the crescendo of aromas rooting you to the spot and making you almost kowtow in deference. The palate has immense backbone and structure; think of the Forth Bridge, if you will. And underneath the blackberry and wild strawberry fruit lie fathomless notes of cold slate and damp autumnal woodland. The energy coiled inside this Richebourg is wonderful. In lesser hands, such a leviathan could be oppressive, but instead, you are overcome with joy and revelry. Stunning. Tasted at the DRC/Leroy comparative dinner in Hong Kong.
About the Producer
The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or DRC is one of the most prestigious wine estates in the world with 25.5 hectares mostly in Vosne-Romanée on the route des Grands Crus in the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits of the Burgundy vineyards (named after the 1.8 hectare Clos de la Romanée-Conti, one of the most prestigious mythical grands crus in the world). The civil company of the same name was founded in 1942 by Edmond Gaudin de Villaine. It is now co-managed for their heir family by the winegrowers Aubert de Villaine and Perrine Fenal.
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