It is always a privilege to taste through a lineup of DRCs. On this occasion, the performance was mixed. While the younger vintages generally showed well, a majority of the older bottles underperformed. Fill levels on the mature bottles were mostly suboptimal, and that was clearly reflected in the glass. Among the highlights, La Tâche 2007 stood out with 96pts, showing early maturity, seductive charm, and a complete expression of its vineyard character. The RSV 2014 (95pts) followed closely behind, a wine marked by balance, clarity, and a solid core of substance. Several 2011s showed real progress compared to last year. They presented more openly, with softened edges and improved definition, but will still need additional time to reach their first true drinking window.
2014 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant, 95 Points
TN: Enchanting nose full of sweet red berries, a touch of stems, and crystal clarity. The palate mirrors the bouquet with ripe strawberry, rhubarb, stems, and subtle minerality. Not deeply complex but supremely well-defined, fresh, and sweet-toned with excellent balance and good acidity. A standout 2014 Burgundy, avoiding any austerity or greenness. A great success. 95pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. No decanting needed.
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton, 88 Points
TN: Muted aromatics with faint dark berries and herbal tones. The palate lacks substance, with missing fruit and sweetness. Compared to other 2011s, this felt slightly green and prematurely evolved. A disappointing showing.
Decanting: Not decanted. Not sure if more air would have helped here (it got rather worse than better in the glass).
2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche, 96 Points
TN: Beautifully expressive nose of sweet spices, animal notes, and a mix of red and dark berries, with a seductive matchstick nuance. The palate follows with refined red fruit, Vosne spices, stems, and toasty sweetness. Delicate, round, and balanced with good acidity. Slightly lacking mid-palate weight and length, but this is a fully mature, elegant La Tâche. Blind, I would have guessed this to be quite a bit older. It seems that the 2007s are evolving quite quickly. I would suggest drinking these wines rather sooner than later. 96/97pts
Decanting: Not decanted. No decanting needed.
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux, 94 Points
TN: Medium expressive nose with vivid red fruit, rhubarb, stems, and bright herbal lift. On the palate, it is clean and lifted, with that same brightness of fruit at the core. Not deeply layered but graceful and complete, avoiding all the vintage pitfalls. It showed significantly more open than a previous bottle (rated 91pts). Soft, balanced, and ready to enjoy. The Richebourg and Grands Echezeaux 2011 in the same flight will need a few more years to further soften and integrate. 94+pts
Decanting: Not decanted. No extensive decanting needed.
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg, 93 Points
A touch reserved on the nose but far more expressive on the palate. There is seductive dark red fruit, spice, stem character, and a touch of toast, all layered on a strong mineral backbone. This needs time. The structure is present, the frame is solid, but the wine has not yet hit full stride. A sleeping Richebourg with serious potential. Today it’s a step behind the Echezeaux and Grands Echezeaux 2011 in the same flight but it will likely surpass them once mature.
Decanting: Not decanted. A bit of air is needed here – improved considerably in the glass.
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echézeaux, 94 Points
Initially shy on the nose, but the fruit slowly crept forward with air. The palate is where the story unfolds. Ripe, dark red fruit wrapped in spice, minerals, and dried herbs. Round and balanced, with fine tannins and integrated acidity. Compared to the Echezeaux, this carries more weight and seduction, if a touch less lift. Already starting to drink well, with more to come. 93 to 94pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. A bit of air is needed here – improved in the glass.
1991 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux, 91 Points
Delicate bouquet of soft sweetness and gentle tertiary tones. The palate is clearer, with slightly dried red fruit and dusty minerality. Not much depth, but it picks up charm with time, gaining sweetness and balance. Fine, if not particularly memorable. 90 to 91pts
Decanting: Not decanted. It improved a bit with air as the fruit and sweetness came forward.
1980 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant, 91 Points
Ok fill level. Nose nearly silent at first. The palate showed more: ripe and dried red fruit, earth, herbs, and a touch of sauvage. Slightly unclean, slightly tired, but with air came sweetness, malt, and some roundness. It never fully cleaned up, but there was pleasure to be found. 91pts.
Decanting: Not decanted. A bit of air helped here.
1976 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche, 85 Points
Wet cellar, cardboard, and mustiness overwhelm the nose. Beneath the flaws, some malt and dried fruit hang on, but it is a difficult bottle. Fill level around 5cm. 85pts.
1974 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux, 87 Points
Fill level ok. Nose was quiet. The palate showed better, with faint sweetness and tertiary elements. Lacked structure and energy, but still offered a glimpse of character. 87pts.
1972 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg, 90 Points
Rather low fill. Nose was not inviting, but the palate redeemed it somewhat with sweet, herbal, and earthy tones. Structurally intact. 89 to 90pts.
1961 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche, 82 Points
Fill was very low and it showed. Still technically drinkable, but well past its prime. 82pts.
Author: Andy Schnyder
September 2025