Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru 2013

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2013 Richebourg is full of surprises, starting with a much more refined expression of Pinot than is typically the case. Lifted and decidedly medium in body, today the Richebourg is all about detail, while the firm spine of tannin that is such a signature is much less in evidence. This is one of the most finessed and approachable Richebourgs I can remember tasting from barrel at DRC, which leads me to think I caught the wine at a very early and embryonic stage in its life.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Healthy bright red. Explosive aromas of raspberry, blackberry, smoked plum, mocha, coffee, spices and truffley underbrush; this one hits most of the major red Burgundy food groups. At once tight-grained and wonderfully sweet and generous; the most vibrant of these 2013s to this point, with highly concentrated red fruit and spice flavors staining the palate and building on the aftertaste. Wonderfully sexy wine, but it's hard to imagine that this won't shut down in the bottle.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Bright medium red. Explosive aromas of raspberry, Oriental spices and orange peel. Silky, broad and complex, showing terrific depth to its raspberry, mineral and spice flavors. Wonderfully juicy and pure, with a sexy hint of peppery herbs adding verve to the very intense fruit. This outstanding palate-staining wine finishes with very suave tannins and rising perfume. Easy to taste today, no doubt partly due to the fact that this wine finished its malolactic fermentation relatively early. But this will almost certainly take at least 15 years to approach its peak.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Richebourg Grand Cru was harvested on the afternoon of October 9 and then the following day at just 16.5 hectoliters per hectare, the second lowest after the Echézeaux. It is clearly the elder brother of the 2013 Romanée-Saint-Vivant with intense dark cherry, black plum, tayberry and crushed violet aromas (the latter, perhaps a nod to the Romanée-Saint-Vivant). As with all the domaine's wines this year, it is beautifully defined with beguiling transparency. The palate is medium-bodied, but there is serious weight and presence here. It is struck through with sorbet-like freshness, hints of blood orange tincturing the vibrant red fruit, seguing into a finish with great conviction and confidence, a Richebourg self-aware though not preening about its status. This is a Richebourg to cellar for several years and to enjoy over the next 20 to 25 years (or more). Production is 551 cases. Tasted February 2016.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Richebourg Grand Cru, whose malolactics finished two months earlier than other crus, is nurturing a very complex bouquet: a mixture of red and black fruit but here with touches of black truffle in the background. Of course, it has wonderful definition. It already boasts a cashmere texture on the palate, extraordinarily smooth with outstanding weight on the finish. Gentle and self-effacing, this should be compelling once in bottle.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

The 2013 Richebourg is full of surprises, starting with a much more refined expression of Pinot than is typically the case. Lifted and decidedly medium in body, today the Richebourg is all about detail, while the firm spine of tannin that is such a signature is much less in evidence. This is one of the most finessed and approachable Richebourgs I can remember tasting from barrel at DRC, which leads me to think I caught the wine at a very early and embryonic stage in its life.