"A Gentleman's Night": This was opened next to see if we wanted to decant it, we did. It was a violet bomb upon opening, in the best way. Just all purple, but light purple. I let this sit a bunch while we moved onto the last wine, but when I came back to it I was hit with a bunch of spice, violets, dark cherry, some plum. A powerful wine, drinking pretty well.
As it continued to open, it got fuller and the spice built. It says something that I paid the least attention to this—whether that’s youth or what it was lined up next to I don’t know…maybe a combination. This will be great in 10+ years.
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this was opened 6 hours ahead and had possibly too much air. great DRC nose but slightly green and stemmy notes in the mouth overpowering fruit aromas right now.
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Had some noticeable green flavors at opening. Left standing 1 hour and then decanted for 30min. Very floral with blackberies flavors and density. Long aftertaste.
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Complete DRC Vintage Horizontals 2017 vs 2018: Since Covid didn’t allow for a proper arrivage tasting last year, we tasted the 2017s in direct taste-offs vs their 2018 counterparts this year. All bottles were opened a few hours earlier, not decanted but we got enough time to follow each wine over 45+ minutes in the glass which allowed for proper aeration and analysis. A few observations: 1) The 2017s are disarmingly easy to drink, charming, soft and open. 2) The 2018 show more depth but will need more time to flesh out, open up and become rounder. 3) Best ever Cortons. Slowly but surely they grow into their allocation (not market) price. 4) The showstopping RSVs edge out the Richebourgs with the purest fruit expression vs raw and today a bit unintegrated power. 5) The La Taches and RCs are playing in their own category in terms of complexity but the RCs are a bit closed. 6) The Montrachets are fabulous with a sharp, complex and complete 2017 as a consensus WOTN and a 2018 which is a bit broader but still amazing.
TN: Unsurprisingly, a lot riper fruit than the 2017, bolder leaving less space for nuances. Less precise and elegant with ripe strawberries, cherries, stems and minerality. Fine tannins, perfectly integrated acidity and overall quite balanced, just a touch too ripe. Good length.
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The nose was all over the place - at once green, then intense cherry, some alcohol, some acdity - needs a lot of time to come together. Whole clusters speak here, I think - loudly. If I had a case, I would leave it to rest 10 years - alas, that's not my problem. #Ib
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I would bring this to a big cab dinner as a good alternative; a more velvet hammer if you will.
Some people have asked for ratings of the 2018s. Here are my thoughts (today / potential). Corton (93 / 94-95) Ech (92 / 94) GE (94 / 95) RSV (93 / 94) Rich (97 / 97) La Tache (95 / 98) Romanee Conti (?? / 99?) Montrachet (93 / ??)
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2/9/2024 - diffwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
"A Gentleman's Night": This was opened next to see if we wanted to decant it, we did. It was a violet bomb upon opening, in the best way. Just all purple, but light purple. I let this sit a bunch while we moved onto the last wine, but when I came back to it I was hit with a bunch of spice, violets, dark cherry, some plum. A powerful wine, drinking pretty well.
As it continued to open, it got fuller and the spice built. It says something that I paid the least attention to this—whether that’s youth or what it was lined up next to I don’t know…maybe a combination. This will be great in 10+ years.
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1/19/2024 - steinersing wrote: 92 Points
this was opened 6 hours ahead and had possibly too much air. great DRC nose but slightly green and stemmy notes in the mouth overpowering fruit aromas right now.
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1/13/2024 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well currently. Yet to go into shell. Light purple hue, quite hedonistic. (4068/7947)
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5/8/2022 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had some noticeable green flavors at opening. Left standing 1 hour and then decanted for 30min. Very floral with blackberies flavors and density. Long aftertaste.
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1/5/2022 - jchan1 wrote: 92 Points
Signature DRC aromatics, fruity palate. Prefer this to the 17, more stylish.
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10/24/2021 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
Complete DRC Vintage Horizontals 2017 vs 2018: Since Covid didn’t allow for a proper arrivage tasting last year, we tasted the 2017s in direct taste-offs vs their 2018 counterparts this year. All bottles were opened a few hours earlier, not decanted but we got enough time to follow each wine over 45+ minutes in the glass which allowed for proper aeration and analysis. A few observations: 1) The 2017s are disarmingly easy to drink, charming, soft and open. 2) The 2018 show more depth but will need more time to flesh out, open up and become rounder. 3) Best ever Cortons. Slowly but surely they grow into their allocation (not market) price. 4) The showstopping RSVs edge out the Richebourgs with the purest fruit expression vs raw and today a bit unintegrated power. 5) The La Taches and RCs are playing in their own category in terms of complexity but the RCs are a bit closed. 6) The Montrachets are fabulous with a sharp, complex and complete 2017 as a consensus WOTN and a 2018 which is a bit broader but still amazing.
TN: Unsurprisingly, a lot riper fruit than the 2017, bolder leaving less space for nuances. Less precise and elegant with ripe strawberries, cherries, stems and minerality. Fine tannins, perfectly integrated acidity and overall quite balanced, just a touch too ripe. Good length.
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7/1/2021 - beatles wrote:
The nose was all over the place - at once green, then intense cherry, some alcohol, some acdity - needs a lot of time to come together. Whole clusters speak here, I think - loudly. If I had a case, I would leave it to rest 10 years - alas, that's not my problem.
#Ib
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4/29/2021 - AValdes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Domaine de la Romanee conti 2018 Tasting and Dinner; 4/29/2021-4/30/2021 (Le Bernardin): Strong tannins. Good alcohol. Bright with a bit of tart (almost like salt). Cherry core. A bit 1-dimensional (due to the front-and-center fruit) but very enjoyable.
I would bring this to a big cab dinner as a good alternative; a more velvet hammer if you will.
Some people have asked for ratings of the 2018s. Here are my thoughts (today / potential).
Corton (93 / 94-95)
Ech (92 / 94)
GE (94 / 95)
RSV (93 / 94)
Rich (97 / 97)
La Tache (95 / 98)
Romanee Conti (?? / 99?)
Montrachet (93 / ??)
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