DRC 2016 – what survived the frost

Tasted Wednesday, October 23, 2019 by Cailles with 210 views

Introduction

Incredible opportunity to taste through the 2016 lineup of the Domaine thanks to a generous importer. 8 bottles per cru opened... it's not every day you see so many DRCs in one room.

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2016 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton Domaine Prince Florent de Merode 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Intro: Another great vintage. At this early stage I slightly prefer the 2016s over the 2015s at the same point last year as the former show a bit more open and complex (due to a less dominant fruit core). Out of the 5 reds, the Richebourg is my #1 with its early charms and seductiveness. The La Tache is the most complex and shows a tad more open than the Romanee Conti, which is so dense and packed that it very likely will reach higher highs than all other wines. The RSV also boasts the fantastic structure and finesse without the incredible depth of the big 3.

    TN: A splendid Pinot Noir which however pales in comparison to its siblings in terms of complexity, intensity, precision and length. It is easily worth the money the Domaine and first hand retailers/distributors are asking for, however, it’s not (even close) worth the hefty price tag on the secondary market. Lots of fresh herbs circling around a soft and sweet fruit core dominated by strawberries and sour cherries. This was quite accessible and drinking nicely. Beautiful soft structure with fine tannins and a medium+ acidity allowing for ageing. Good but without any exceptionalism.

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  • 2016 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

    Intro: Another great vintage. At this early stage I slightly prefer the 2016s over the 2015s at the same point last year as the former show a bit more open and complex (due to a less dominant fruit core). Out of the 5 reds, the Richebourg is my #1 with its early charms and seductiveness. The La Tache is the most complex and shows a tad more open than the Romanee Conti, which is so dense and packed that it very likely will reach higher highs than all other wines. The RSV also boasts the fantastic structure and finesse without the incredible depth of the big 3.

    TN: Fresh red berries, sweet strawberries, sour cherries, fresh and sweet cherries, herbs, wet stone. Intense, complex and precise but not at the same insane level as the big three. Same is true for the length. Impeccable structural frame with ultra-fine tannins and a perfect, well-integrated acidity. Also here, great structure but not as fine and polished as the big three, yet still on an incredibly high level. All in all a great wine which will age gracefully and should reach the elusive 97+ points category once mature.

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  • 2016 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

    Intro: Another great vintage. At this early stage I slightly prefer the 2016s over the 2015s at the same point last year as the former show a bit more open and complex (due to a less dominant fruit core). Out of the 5 reds, the Richebourg is my #1 with its early charms and seductiveness. The La Tache is the most complex and shows a tad more open than the Romanee Conti, which is so dense and packed that it very likely will reach higher highs than all other wines. The RSV also boasts the fantastic structure and finesse without the incredible depth of the big 3.

    TN: An incredible 98+ point nose displaying a wide array of aromas with a sexy nuttiness with fresh and roasted almonds, dark fruit, fresh red berries, ripe red berries, strawberry candy, fresh herbs, spices, sous bouis, ash, wet rocks. Incredibly deep and seductive. For me clearly the best nose of all 2016s (at least today). A tad less ready and convincing on the palate with loads of pure fresh red fruit, rose hip, other floral aromas, wet slate, herbs, spices. While it‘s still hints at a lot of potential, the palate shows a bit less complex than the LT and the finish is a not as long as with the RC and LT. The tannins and acidity are, however, as perfect as with the two monopole vineyards. This will be fantastic once mature, but other than with the RC and LT I‘m not sure if it can reach perfection (mainly due to its length).

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  • 2016 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 97 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru

    Intro: Another great vintage. At this early stage I slightly prefer the 2016s over the 2015s at the same point last year as the former show a bit more open and complex (due to a less dominant fruit core). Out of the 5 reds, the Richebourg is my #1 with its early charms and seductiveness. The La Tache is the most complex and shows a tad more open than the Romanee Conti, which is so dense and packed that it very likely will reach higher highs than all other wines. The RSV also boasts the fantastic structure and finesse without the incredible depth of the big 3.

    TN: Incredibly complex and ever changing aroma profile on the nose and palate with dark fruits, dark forest berries with time more and more pure red fruits with strawberries, cranberries, cherries, strawberry candy, rose hip, fresh herbs, loads and loads of minerality with wet stone, granite, earthy tones. The complexity and the purity of the aromas are off the charts. The structural frame comes with the softest tannins and a very round and high acidity which will need some more time to further integrate. Great length. Incredible 97/98 nose thanks to the unbelievable complexity, 95/96+ on the palate thanks to the complexity and structure with some deductions for the acidity. This could become a masterpiece and a (nearly?) perfect wine in 20 years.

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  • 2016 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru

    Intro: Another great vintage. At this early stage I slightly prefer the 2016s over the 2015s at the same point last year as the former show a bit more open and complex (due to a less dominant fruit core). Out of the 5 reds, the Richebourg is my #1 with its early charms and seductiveness. The La Tache is the most complex and shows a tad more open than the Romanee Conti, which is so dense and packed that it very likely will reach higher highs than all other wines. The RSV also boasts the fantastic structure and finesse without the incredible depth of the big 3.

    TN: Dark berries, loads of strawberries, strawberry candy, sour cherries, rose hip, wet slate, some herbs. A bit less complex than the La Tache as the fruit is much more intense and dominant. The highlight is the precision of all the aromas. The signature weightless, luxurious structure with the finest possible tannins and a perfect balance and harmony with a well-integrated acidity. Incredible length, this just goes on and on and on. Even more than the Richebourg and La Tache (and miles above the RSV). Nose 95/96 points (a bit more closed than the La Tache/Richebourg) getting better and better with time, palate 96/97 mainly thanks to the precision and structure. My guess: this can easily reach perfection in 20 or 30 years.

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