DRC 2001 Verkostung 2005-03-11

Verkostungsnotiz Domaine Romanée Conti 2001

2005-03-11 Restaurant Coburg/Weinagentur Czizek

I have only few DRC bottles (Richebourg and La Tache) in my cellar including some of the 2001 vintage and do not intend to open any of these bottles within the next 10 years. So I jumped on the possibility to attend a fair priced DRC 2001 tasting although with some caution: Clearly too young to be enjoyed I assumed from my experience with young Burgundies so far and then - big names with big expectations often result in disappointments.

Not this time: I was really surprised how delicious these wines are now and with some exceptions the expectations were fully met.

The wines were tasted single blind and opened and decanted directly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Burgundy glass.

The first flight consisted of 3 Montrachets:

2001 Amiot Guy et Fils, Montrachet, Burgundy, France: Light yellow, brilliant, fat tears. Decent mineral nose. Medium body, decent acidity, some fruit, decent tannins, well balanced. Good finish, nice echo. Gets weaker over time in the glass. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 89.

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Montrachet, Burgundy, France: Light yellow gold, brilliant, fat tears. Fat nose, butter, nuts. Medium body nearly slim, acidity with a slight bitter note, tannins mouth impregnating. Long finish, persistent tannins. Stays firm over time in the glass. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.

2001 Marc Colin et Fils, Montrachet, Burgundy, France: Watery yellow, brilliant, fat tears. Floral nose, spearmint, tooth paste. Medium body, good acidity, very dry, soft tannins. Medium finish, not very impressive. Gets better over time in the glass. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 89.

As white wines are not my focus of interest these wines were kind of wasted on me but I nailed the DRC.

Second flight with 3 Echezeaux:

2001 Jean Grivot, Echezeaux, Burgundy, France: Dark garnet, brick in the rim, medium tears. Slightly decayed fruit in the nose, sweet, champignons. Medium body, bit harsh, coarse acidity, ditto tannins. Long aftertaste, gets bitter in the end, wormwood. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88.

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Echezeaux, Burgundy, France: Light ruby, bright, fat tears. Sweet oak in the nose, dark red bit sweet fruit, pure. Medium body, bit coarse acidity, red fruit, coarse tannins. Medium finish, bit austere. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.

2001 Robert Jayer-Gilles, Echezeaux du Dessus, Burgundy, France: Medium purple, brilliant, fat tears. Dark oak in the nose, pure red fruit, medical note. Medium to plump body, pure red fruit, good acidity, good but not too fine tannins. Long finish, persistent tannins, slightly bitter in the end. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 5 for overall = total score of 89.

None of them very impressive, bit rustic Pinot Noir, could have been 3 Pommards as well. I would take none of them as DRC.

Third flight with 2 Grand Echezeaux:

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Grand Echezeaux, Burgundy, France: Medium garnet, bright, fat tears. First moment barnyard, changing to nice and pure red fruit, ascending alcohol. Medium body, low fruit, good acidity, fine powerful tannins, well balanced. Long finish, fine persistent tannins. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.

2001 René Engel, Grand Echezeaux, Burgundy, France: Medium garnet, brilliant, fat tears. Decent mineral nose, bit smoky, dark chocolate. Medium body, fine acidity, in the middle a bit thin, soft silky tannins. Long finish, strong mouth impregnating. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.

Finally serious wines with the kind of silky tannins you expect here. The quickly changing curious nose of the DRC led me astray.

Fourth flight with 2 Romanée St. Vivant:

2001 Thomas Moillard, Romanée St. Vivant, Burgundy, France: Medium ruby, brilliant, fat tears. Dark nose, bit austere, low fruit. Medium body, fine acidity, fine red fruit, soft mouth impregnating tannins. Very long finish, smoky persistent tannins. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Romanée St. Vivant, Burgundy, France: Medium ruby, bit dusty, fat tears. Fine cool dark fruit, some chocolate, roasted red plums. Medium body, massive acidity, red fruit, massive bit coarse tannins. Long finish, tannic acidity, slightly bitter note in the end. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91.

This was a bit of disappointment concerning the DRC and quite a success for the Moillard.

Fifth flight with 2 Richebourg:

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Richebourg, Burgundy, France: Light garnet, light rim, medium tears. Very fine red fruit, decent alcoholic nose. Medium body, fine acidity, red fruit, massive tannins, very well balanced. Very long finish, massive mouth impregnating tannins. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 93.

2001 Anne Gros, Richebourg, Burgundy, France: Light ruby, brilliant, fat tears. Dark red fruit, chocolate, very fine. Medium body, fine acidity, soft red fruit, very fine tannins, well balanced. Long finish, fine smoky persistent tannins. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94.

Both quite interesting wines with the clearly to recognize DRC in lead concerning taste and finish and the Anne Gros with optic and bouquet.

Finally the sixth flight with 2 DRC:

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, Romanée Conti, Burgundy, France: Very light brilliant garnet, fat tears. Fine red fruity nose, very decent, subtle. Medium body, very precise acidity, very pure red fruit, extra fine silky tannins, very well balanced. Very long finish, finest mouth impregnating. Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 94

2001 Domaine Romanée Conti, La Tache, Burgundy, France: Medium garnet, slightly dusty, fat tears. Very decent slightly malty nose, multi layered, slightly alcoholic. Medium to chubby body, melting acidity, soft burning tannins, very well balanced. Extremely long finish, peppered tannins, soft burning aftertaste. Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 19 for taste + 10 for overall = total score of 97

Here I found the Romanée Conti a straight continuation of the Richebourg on a only slightly higher level and the La Tache was for me quite spectacular and really brilliant. I can only hope my own bottles are on the same level.

2005-03-12/Schriftführer e.h.