Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 2010

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2010 Richebourg is a kaleidoscope of black fruit, graphite, mint, violets and spices. It is a towering, statuesque wine that completely saturates the palate in all directions, seemingly at the same time. The 2010 stands out for its beguiling, totally exquisite aromatics. The trademark Richebourg structure is present, but this seems to be a vintage where finesse takes precedence over sheer power. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2060. I tasted the 2010s twice from barrel, once in the summer just as the wines were about to be racked and then again during my early December visit. On both occasions the wines were stellar. Like virtually all of his colleagues, co-manager Aubert de Villaine was surprised by the level of the 2010s given all of the challenges of the growing season. I could repeat everything de Villaine told me, but there is no better source than the man himself, so readers who want to learn more about the 2010 harvest may want to take a look at my interview with de Villaine on www.erobertparker.com. Overall, I am very impressed with the 2010s with the exception of the Corton, which appears to be a notch or two below the 2009. The 2010 that most greatly exceeds its appellation and historical level of quality is the Echezeaux. I also tasted the 2010 Vosne-Romanee Cuvee Duvault-Blochet but the domaine had not yet decided if the wine would be released. I will report on the 2009s in our April issue. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Richebourg was served prior to the Romanee-St Vivant as it has been done for the last two or three years. It was picked between 23rd and 25th September, the earliest of the Grand Crus (excepting the Corton.) It has a slight softness to the nose, like resting your head on a pillow of raspberry, cranberry leaf and wild strawberry. These scents are infused with touches of sage, incense and even a suggestion of Seville orange marmalade. It is a complex bouquet, perhaps more convincing than either the 2008 or 2009. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm, masculine structure on the entry, the tannins framing crisp red and black fruit entwined with a persuasive earthiness. This is a more brooding, introspective Richebourg, which is how it should be at this stage, but there is more substance on the finish that I feel has occasionally been lacking in recent vintages. Perhaps it could benefit from a little more tension on the finish, which drifts a little, but otherwise this is a sound Richebourg that will repay a decade in the cellar. Total production is 943 cases. Tasted January 2013.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Very good deep red. Much more austere on the nose than the Romanee-Saint-Vivant, hinting at dark fruits, menthol and violet. Then splendidly rich but backward, boasting obvious saline minerality but hiding more than it's showing today. Substantial dusty but refined tannins saturate the mouth on the very long, subtle, firmly structured back end. Perhaps the least sweet of these 2010s today; I note that this wine was similarly inscrutable from barrel a year ago.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep red-ruby. Rather blocked on the nose by musky reduction (this was racked longer ago than the preceding wines), showing mocha and chocolate notes. Fat and rich but youthfully tight and powerful. Hard to assess now but very long on the aftertaste.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2010 Richebourg is a kaleidoscope of black fruit, graphite, mint, violets and spices. It is a towering, statuesque wine that completely saturates the palate in all directions, seemingly at the same time. The 2010 stands out for its beguiling, totally exquisite aromatics. The trademark Richebourg structure is present, but this seems to be a vintage where finesse takes precedence over sheer power.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2010 Richebourg is a kaleidoscope of black fruit, graphite, mint, violets and spices. It is a towering, statuesque wine that completely saturates the palate in all directions, seemingly at the same time. The 2010 stands out for its beguiling, totally exquisite aromatics. The trademark Richebourg structure is present, but this seems to be a vintage where finesse takes precedence over sheer power. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2060. I tasted the 2010s twice from barrel, once in the summer just as the wines were about to be racked and then again during my early December visit. On both occasions the wines were stellar. Like virtually all of his colleagues, co-manager Aubert de Villaine was surprised by the level of the 2010s given all of the challenges of the growing season. I could repeat everything de Villaine told me, but there is no better source than the man himself, so readers who want to learn more about the 2010 harvest may want to take a look at my interview with de Villaine on www.erobertparker.com. Overall, I am very impressed with the 2010s with the exception of the Corton, which appears to be a notch or two below the 2009. The 2010 that most greatly exceeds its appellation and historical level of quality is the Echezeaux. I also tasted the 2010 Vosne-Romanee Cuvee Duvault-Blochet but the domaine had not yet decided if the wine would be released. I will report on the 2009s in our April issue. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661