Mar 22, 2011

2006 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-St-Vivant & 2004 Denis Thomas Echezeaux Grand Cru

The most prestigeous domaine in Burgudy. Some of the best pinot noirs around. One of the most sought-after wines. Need I say more? Tasted with friends who were as intrigued as yours truly about a Romanee-Conti.

2006 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-St-Vivant (Burgundy)
Romanee-Conti has 5.3 hectares in Romanee-St. Vivant vinyeard with average age of wines 34 years andannual production of 1,500 cases.

Five hours of decanting. Colour is a medium purple. Nose is charming and medium intensive giving you black cherry, perfume, lingonberry, even apricot and toffee, turning to some meatiness after long decanting.

Palate is medium/full bodied, very silky and soft with higher than usual acidity, well-integrated tannins, dominated by cherry fruit and lingonberry in the front palate, turning to meatiness in the mid-palate. After long decanting, notes of oriental spices (turmeric and saffron) develop and integrate nicely with the cherry. Very long aftertaste, stays in the mouth over 1min. Gives warmth, however only medium alcohol content. More one-dimensional than what the nose gave, but shows signs of developing nicely. The Romanee-St. Vivant 2006 is a meditation wine or enjoy it with bird game meat. Although the wine was approachable, needless to say it should develop for years which is the recommendation.

2004 Denis Thomas Echezeaux Grand Cru (Burgundy)
Denis Thomas is a small producer located right next to the Domaine de la Romanee- Conti estate in village of Vosne-Romanee. He was kind enough to stop his lunch for my visit and showed the cave. Bought two bottles from im, one of which was corked. This bottle was also unusual.

The colour is ruby however already sligtly developed thus browner than that of the Romanee-Conti - this is two years older. Redcurrant, musk, meat notes dominate supported by violet and mint, and with long decanting, the fruit turns sweeter and almond notes emerge.

The palate is full-bodied and has trademark cherry with clove, with meatiness and cigar box notes. However the fruit is slightly subdued. This bottle was not in a prime condition either.

Which one did the tasters prefer? One preferred the Denis Thomas, five the Romanee-Conti.