TIME TO BUY?
2019 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
8 bottle Assortment case
All of the 2019s here are incredible.
Allen Meadows, burghound.com, January 2022
2019 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment case of:
Romanée-Conti (1), La Tâche (2), Richebourg (1), Romanée-St Vivant (2), Grands Echézeaux (1), Echézeaux (1)
£37,500 per 8 bottle case in bond
Following on from the 3 bottle assortment case we offered on Tuesday, which sold in a flash, we can now offer an 8 bottle case, which includes not only a second bottle of each of the Allen Meadows' revered La Tâche and Romanée-St Vivant but also a bottle of Romanée-Conti itself and a bottle of Grands Echezeaux to complete the set of the original 6 Grands Crus of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Tracking each of the component wines of this case through Liv-ex gives a peak market value of £80,733 for this same set of 8 bottles. Meanwhile, based off the lowest-priced single bottles in the UK, we arrive at a current total of £39,972 per 8 bottles, which figure does not take into account the fact of this being an original wooden case.
Our price for this original wooden case is £37,500 per 8 bottles in bond.
As has been said previously, 2019 is a very highly regarded vintage for Burgundy and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. We tend to refer to Allen Meadows of burghound.com when writing up any DRC offer. He appears to have significant tasting experience with the domaine and is able to place each vintage into context. He commented as follows in his introduction on the vintage, relaying a conversation with Aubert de Villaine:
‘When I commented that I found the 2019 La Tâche to be absolutely superb and perhaps even a cut above its usual stunning level, de Villaine noted in return that "it's our best La Tâche in a very long time." When I then asked if he thought it might day equal, or perhaps even surpass, the absolutely brilliant 1999, he demurred simply saying that "it's not out of the question," which I took to be a very positive endorsement. I would add that with the exception of the Corton, all of the 2019s here are incredible….The two that really stood out relative to their normal quality levels were the Echézeaux and the RSV, but I repeat, they're all terrific. In short, 2019 is quite simply a knockout good vintage for the domaine and with as many fantastic vintages as they have had, this is really saying something.’
Here are his notes on the individual wines:
Romanée-Conti 2019
99+ points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
This too is restrained to the point of being almost completely inexpressive and even extensive swirling barely reveals the most floral nose of all, along with discreetly perfumed, exotic and elegant aromas of Asian-style tea, sandalwood and ripe yet cool red and dark currant. The equally cool, pure and highly energetic large-scale flavors also possess a simply gorgeous mid-palate texture that contrasts somewhat with the compact, backward and taciturn finish that possess stunningly good complexity and incredible persistence. Other than the barest suggestion of warmth, the balance is perfect and like all of the greatest vintages of this storied and multi-faceted wine, the word that comes to mind is Zen as the sense of harmony is unmatched. As was the case from barrel last year, I could again taste this wine three days later and while I don't pretend to know if the 2019 RC will ultimately match the finest vintages over the past 100 years, based on the underlying material, it certainly has a very good chance of doing so. In sum, Burgundy doesn't get much, indeed if any, better than this. Drink 2044+
La Tâche 2019
99 points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
A classic and super-fresh La Tâche nose is also quite restrained and only grudgingly offers up a kaleidoscopic range of spice elements that are laced with a wonderful array of floral nuances on the red and dark berry fruit scents. There is superb detail to the muscular big-bodied flavors that brim with both minerality and dry extract before culminating in an explosively long, balanced, youthfully austere and harmonious finish. This is sleek, classy and powerful plus it is packed with development potential though a wine that’s going to require many decades to fully resolve the very firm lashing to supporting tannins. The 2019 LT reminds me of such recent vintages as the 2015, 2010 and 1999 but it may in fact ultimately surpass all of them, which is really saying something. In short, this too is absolutely brilliant. Drink 2044+
Richebourg 2019
97 points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
In contrast to the prior wines, this is all but aromatically mute and requires extended swirling to coax the ripe but wonderfully fresh aromas of dazzlingly spicy, floral and essence of dark cherry scents to reveal themselves. As is usually the case, there is even better size, weight and mid-palate density to the big-bodied and very serious mineral-driven flavors that possess that wonderful inner mouth perfume along with a highly seductive texture that gradually gives way to a hugely long finish that is supported by dense but relatively fine tannins that provide plenty of grip while making clear that this is going to develop and last over the next 50 years, and more is not out of the question. Brilliant. Drink 2041+
Romanée-St.Vivant 2019
97 points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
Subtle wood influence can be found on the equally ripe, airy and gorgeously elegant nose of black cherry, cassis, exotic tea and an almost endless range of spice elements. There is unusually good volume and punch to the lavishly rich, even opulent, medium weight plus flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract on the highly energetic and very powerful finish. This is also quite firmly structured and 2019 is relatively big and muscular vintage for the RSV. With that said, I suspect that the hallmark finesse and refinement will eventually reveal themselves with extended time in bottle. I would add that I thought this was marvelous from barrel but it's even better now that it's in bottle. Drink 2039+
Grands-Echézeaux 2019
96 points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
Once again, the nose is super-floral with ripe but airy and elegant aromas of various dark berries, star anise, dried tangerine peel, warm earth and a plethora of spice elements. As is virtually always the case, there is better size, weight and muscle present on the broad-shouldered flavors that delivers stunningly good length on the equally compact and beautifully well-balanced finale. There is superb complexity and overall, this is breathtakingly good though as always with this wine, be prepared to allow for ample bottle age as the supporting tannic spine is very firm. Magnificent. Drink 2039+
2019 Echézeaux
95 points, Allen Meadows, burghound.com
An overtly spicy and agreeably cool nose combines notes of soy, star anise, clove and sandalwood with those of plum, violet and a hint of jasmine tea. Here too there is excellent intensity to the attractively textured medium-bodied flavors that flash seriously good length on the ever-so-mildly warm finale. This compact, dusty and moderately austere bitter pit fruit-inflected effort is going to need extended cellaring to arrive at its full apogee. As I noted last year, I don't ever recall seeing a better vintage from barrel and all of that potential appears to have made it into bottle. In sum, the 2019 Ech is as good as any vintage in recent memory from the domaine. 2036+
Another compelling set of wines, without a doubt. At market-corrected prices, these kind of offers should surely be drawing attention from canny buyers and collectors!
Please let us know of your interest.
Simon
simon.larkin@atlasfinewines.com