Peter Büel, who has been organizing high-end tastings in Zurich for many years, is bowing out with a bang. His last two tastings will be two DRC events, one with wines across appellations and another one dedicated only to La Tâche. Entry ticket to these tasting is consignment a bottle at official Martel release prices with Peter then making ticket price adjustments for everyone according to what was consigned. A very fair procedure. The evening was accompanied by fine cuisine from the Widder restaurant. Great Burgundy aficionado crowd, great wines and food.
Tasting Notes
Apéritif
NV Gosset Champagne Brut Grande Réserve, 93 Points
Always a convivial way to begin, and tonight the Gosset was in solid form: generous, brioche-laden and redolent of warm croissant. It proved universally popular – a sign that sometimes the right bubbles simply charm without needing to impress.
Flight 1 – Vosne / Corton
2006 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cuvée Duvault-Blochet, 92 Points
The 2006 Duvault-Blochet remains an earthy, brooding wine, still carrying the slightly rustic hallmarks of the vintage. Aromas lean toward the brown spectrum – wood spice, damp soil, a touch of leather. There’s honesty here, even if not refinement.
2009 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton Domaine Prince Florent de Merode, 93 Points
The 2009 Corton shows a surprising degree of finesse for what is often a sterner wine. Bright red fruit framed by fine, masculine tannins. It’s filigree, almost dainty for a Corton, with enough ripeness to lend charm. 93+
Flight 2 – Echezeaux
2010 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 97 Points
The 2010 Echézeaux jumps from the glass with sandalwood, rose petals and sweet spice- pure silk in aromatic form. There’s a beguiling delicacy here, and though a touch more mid-palate weight would elevate it further, the class is undeniable.
2009 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 96 Points
Riper, darker and more sensual than the 2010, offering fig, dried plum and dark cherry. The tannins are deftly handled, the texture satin-like. A study in controlled opulence, with all the house finesse intact.
2017 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 94 Points
Still very primary – red fruit, a hint of new oak, and the tender grip of youth. A fine ambassador for the 2017 vintage’s light-footed charm, though the bouquet is far from its peak.
2014 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 95 Points
More open, showing complex tertiary tones alongside red cherry and subtle earth. The structure is still firm, suggesting it’s edging toward its drinking window but not quite there yet.
The line-up of the evening
Flight 3 – RSV
2013 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 96 Points
Still youthful and reserved, this 2013 RSV hints at its pedigree with cool blue and red fruit, violets, and a touch of liquorice. The structure and acidity promise another decade of positive evolution.
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 95 Points
Already singing, with floral lift and graceful red fruit. Light-bodied, delicate, and transparent – more whisper than shout. Perhaps not profound, but undeniably lovely.
Flight 4 – Richebourg
2013 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 97 Points
A step up in power and depth from the 2013 RSV. The extra ripeness in the otherwise cool vintage benefits Richebourg’s innate muscle – ripe blue fruit mingling with spice and mineral drive. Beautifully proportioned, this will ascend further with age.
1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 96 Points
At the cusp of its drinking window, showing captivating tertiary notes – autumn leaves, sous-bois, game. Unfortunately, this bottle suffered a rough car journey, muting some nuance, yet it still conveyed majesty in structure and presence.
Adrian van Felsen (www.vvwine.ch) inspecting each Cru
Flight 5 – LT / RC
2014 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 98 Points
A thrilling La Tâche: explosive bouquet, kaleidoscopic layers of spice, rose and red fruit. The palate glides effortlessly, at once sensual and disciplined. Sublime – this is Burgundy’s poetry rendered in tannin and time. 98+
2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 97 Points
Leaner, more tensile beside the 2014 La Tâche, but the complexity is magnetic. Aromatically kaleidoscopic, with a silken, caressing finish that lingers like the final bars of a sonata. The nose is fantastic and if you are a lover of lighter styled Burgundy with an aromatic streak in the whole cluster spectrum, than this is for you.
Flight 6 – Vintage 2005 horizontal
2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 96 Points
A fleeting whiff of reduction soon gives way to airy grace: herbs, green tea, and a whisper of woodland. Ethereal for the vintage – Burgundy in ballet slippers.
2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 96 Points
Compact and coiled, offering blue fruit, cranberry, liquorice and cumin. Cool and restrained, this will require patience to unfurl. One of the 2005 that I would keep a few more years in the cellar.
2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St. Vivant 97 Points
A revelation, floral, lifted and lissome, almost delicate for such a structured year. The RSV wears its femininity with quiet confidence – an exquisite 2005 that does not drown in its tannins. Ready now with a bit of air. 97+
2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 97 Points
Much more volume and muscle than the RSV, exuding dark fruit and earth. Less aromatically perfumed, but the palate’s breadth and depth command attention. A gourmand Richebourg that remains impeccably poised. Can benefit from a few more years of cellaring.
Wonderful dishes of restaurant Widder
Flight 7 – Whites
2019 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton-Charlemagne 99 Points
A showstopper. Butter, gunflint, lemon curd – all in perfect balance. There’s tension and generosity in equal measure, making it as likely to seduce a Côte de Beaune purist as a Californian convert. A monumental showing.
2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet 93 Points
A fading beauty – richer, waxier and more evolved than the Corton-Charlemagne. Notes of bruised apple and caramel frame the finish. Not oxidized, but clearly at twilight.
Flight 8 – Night Cap
1945 Sempe Armagnac 93 Points
Not a fan of Brandy be it Cognac/Armagnac/Grappa, the aroma profile is just not my thing. This one was quite lovely though as the leathery, tertiary notes create nice complexity and the palate was smooth.
Peter Büel who meticulously prepared the line-up
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
October 2025