Description
- 2011 DRC Romanee Conti Grand Cru
96 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
The 2011 Romanee-Conti was picked on 6 September at 26.83hl/ha. As usual, the Romanee-Conti is reticent at first, as if the wine is checking you out before deciding whether you are worthy. It then unfurls to reveal a precise, exquisitely focused bouquet with crushed strawberry, flint and smoke. The palate is devastatingly smooth on the entry. The tannins are lace-like, the acidity perfectly judged and it gently crescendos in the mouth towards a seductive poised finish that lingers incredibly long. This is a master-class in ‘less being more’: a consummate Romanee-Conti for mid- rather than long-term cellaring. 473 cases produced. Drink 2017-2035+
- 2011 DRC La Tache Grand Cru
95 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
The La Tache 2011, picked on 5 and 6 September at 27.49hl/ha, has a wonderful bouquet that is quintessential La Tache: very complete and harmonious, beautifully delineated, succinct at first then with aeration, blossoming with brambly red berries, apple blossom, minerals and a touch of sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with immense purity and delicacy on the entry. This La Tache is extremely focused, velvety smooth in the mouth and although not as complex as the 2010, it has a beguiling femininity that will seduce at ten paces. It is extremely long in the mouth but politely does not outstay its welcome. Divine. 1,514 cases produced. Drink 2017-2040.
- 2011 DRC Richebourg Grand Cru
94 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
The 2011 Richebourg was picked on 7 and 8 September at 28.36hl/ha. It has a very pure bouquet, a mixture of blackberry, raspberry leaf, freshly tilled meadow and a touch of cold stone. It is not a powerful bouquet, but delineated and very focused. The palate is not dissimilar to the Grands Echezeaux on the entry: linear and poised with crisp brambly red fruit. But it swerves another way mid-through, developing a wonderful candied core of strawberry and Morello and a caressing finish sending ripples of pleasure across the senses. In many ways it is a self-effacing Richebourg with charm and candour, but I Richebourg that I suspect may be deceptively long lived. The Richebourg 2011 is a fair prince rather than a grand king. 931 cases produced. Drink 2018-2035.
- 2011 DRC Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru
94 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
The Romanee-Saint-Vivant was picked on 8 and 9 September at 24.7hl/ha. Now this has a very interesting bouquet, quite distinct from the Richebourg and the Grands Echezeaux. It is much more exuberant and lifted, very perfumed with fresh strawberry, red cherries, dried rose petals and a touch of quince. This is so lively and vivacious, as if it borrowed some of the succulence from the 2009 vintage. The palate is quite precocious on the entry, the mouth instantaneously tingling with glee. There is a beautiful crescendo before fanning out towards its silky caressing finish. There is something playful and joyous about this Romanee-Saint-Vivant, carefree and alluring, a wine to be enjoyed as much as respected. 1,164 cases produced. Drink 2016-2035.
- 2011 DRC Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru
93 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
The Grands Echezeaux 2011 was picked on 9 and 10 September at 25.33hl/ha. There is certainly more intensity and fruitiness on the nose compared to the Echezeaux. The aromatics here feel fuller, rounder and more harmonious that its sibling. As the wine remains in the glass there are subtle cassis notes that begin to emerge accompanied by over-ripe oranges. The palate is well balanced and fresh on the entry, with slightly powdery tannins. It is very harmonious with well-judged acidity and compared to the Echezeaux there is more weight and corpulence to counterbalance the strict structure. It gently builds, never losing its head mind you, towards a lightly spiced finish that fans out beautifully. This is a very accomplished rather than spectacular Grands Echezeaux. 923 cases produced. Drink 2017-2030
- 2011 DRC Echezeaux Grand Cru
90 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 27th Feb 2014
Picked on 10 and 11 September at 22.04hl/ha, the Echezeaux Grand Cru has a delicate, quite feminine bouquet with scents of fresh strawberry, undergrowth and just a hint of dry tobacco. It opens nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly brusque entry. The tannins are quite pointed here, creating a more angular Echezeaux compared to the 2011, whilst it needs to develop just a little more flesh and weight towards the back end that feels a little brittle and attenuated at the moment. Still, there is a fine saline, almost nori seaweed tang on the aftertaste – a nice twist in the tail. 1,030 cases produced. Drink now-2027
