Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 2009

vinous97

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

I am surprised by how good the 2009 Richebourg is at this stage. Swaths of tannin frame an explosive core of fruit in a Burgundy endowed with a real sense of gravitas. The radiance and ripeness of the year has filled out the wine nicely, yet the 2009 remains a quintessentially powerful, substantial wine that will last decades. Although the 2009 is many years away from peaking, it is a real joy to catch it at this early stage.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Richebourg opens with the most beguiling, exquisite aromatics imaginable, but then turns more austere on the palate as the tannins and structure assert themselves with authority. Still, there is a sensuality to the 2009 that is impossible to miss. Smoke, tar, cured meats and dark red stone fruit are some of the many nuances that emerge from the dense, layered finish. Far from an easygoing 2009, the Richebourg demands cellaring.

vinous97

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Richebourg is a dramatic wine. In 2009 there is so much fruit that the tannins are barely perceptible. With time in the glass dark notes of tar, smoke, licorice and violets develop, adding tons of complexity to the fruit. This is a huge, vertical wine that captures the essence of Richebourg in its towering fruit and structure. Layers of fruit saturate every corner of the palate as the wine builds to a deeply satisfying crescendo of head-spinning aromas and flavors.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Good bright red-ruby. Muskier and oakier on the nose today than the RSV, with darker fruit aromas complicated by smoky minerality and a whiff of cassis bud reduction. Sharply delineated but tightly wound and dominated by its structure. Conveys a rigorous impression of calcaire minerality but this will need a good decade of aging to express itself. Finishes very long and subtle, with superb spine and lingering perfume.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep red-ruby. A bit reduced on the very dark nose, hinting at blackberry, licorice, minerals and spices. The silkiest and most concentrated of these young 2009s to this point, with terrific density enlivened by pepper and fresh herb notes. This was from the only barrel in the cellar that had been racked. From an unracked barrel: Very ripe on the nose. Then sweet, spicy and soil-driven on the nose and rich and concentrated in the mouth. Ultimately more opulent and deep than the first sample. Aubert de Villaine believes that the racking will open the '09s but seemed in no particularly rush to take this step.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Richebourg was the first to be harvested by the domaine on 13th September. I have been rather tepid about the performance of the Richebourg in recent vintage and it is unsurprising that it is now served before that Romanee St. Vivant. Here, it has a very reserved, stalky bouquet with notes of limestone and sea salt, underbrush and woodland aromas developing with aeration. The fruit certainly stays in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively entry, the fruit compensating for its bashfulness on the nose. It has good weight and is certainly more generous than the 2008, with dark cherry, cranberry and a hint of dried blood. It displays fine length and cohesion, finishing in typically introspective, broody style. Tasted February 2012.

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted out of barrel at the Domaine. Compared to the Romanee St. Vivant, the Richebourg is demonstrating a little more chutzpah on the nose with wild strawberry and faint black truffle aromas, hints of wild undergrowth emerging with time. The palate displays great volume and very fine, tensile tannins with a silver thread of citrus fruits on the refined finish that belies its nascent power. Great potential! Tasted November 2010.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Richebourg is a dramatic wine. In 2009 there is so much fruit that the tannins are barely perceptible. With time in the glass dark notes of tar, smoke, licorice and violets develop, adding tons of complexity to the fruit. This is a huge, vertical wine that captures the essence of Richebourg in its towering fruit and structure. Layers of fruit saturate every corner of the palate as the wine builds to a deeply satisfying crescendo of head-spinning aromas and flavors. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2059. 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