Richebourg 2018 Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Tasting Note Richebourg 2018

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Grape Varieties

Richebourg 2018 is a single-varietal wine: Pinot Noir, 100%.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's vines here are derived from cuttings of Romanée-Conti, which physically links the two wines.

Cellaring Potential

It is best enjoyed between 2028 and 2055. Let it breathe in a decanter for about an hour before serving at 16-18°C.

About Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Every vineyard of Domaine de la Romanee Conti is classified Grand Cru. There are no Village or Premier Cru vineyards, the one exception being Cuvee Duvault-Blochet, an occasional bottling from young vines and casks left out of the final blends. Around 25 hectares in total: Romanee-Conti and La Tache are monopoles, owned outright, alongside shares in Richebourg, Romanee-Saint-Vivant, Echezeaux and Grands Echezeaux, plus Montrachet and leased Corton and Corton-Charlemagne plots over in the Cote de Beaune. Pinot Noir for the seven reds, Chardonnay for the whites, grown from vine selections traced back to the Romanee-Conti vineyard itself. Soil is tilled by hand or with horses, and the estate went fully biodynamic in 2007, without putting a certification logo on the bottle. Yields sit at 20 to 30 hectolitres per hectare where 42 is permitted.

Terroir & Climate

The soil consists of clay and sand mixed with gravel over limestone, ensuring rapid drainage and preventing the vines from becoming waterlogged. Richebourg is located mid-slope in the northern part of Vosne-Romanée, straddling the boundary between the relatively warm Les Richebourgs and the slightly cooler Les Veroilles. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti owns 3.51 hectares here, making it the largest single shareholder. Furthermore, the Côte de Nuits' cool, continental climate slows the ripening process, and it is precisely this that gives Pinot Noir its fragrant aromas and robust structure.

Winemaking

Whole grape clusters are placed in open wooden vats and fermented with natural yeasts. The wine is not filtered before bottling. Aging takes place in new oak barrels, allowing Richebourg's concentrated flavors to infuse the wine without being overshadowed by oak notes. However, here, yield is also of high importance. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti limits its yield to 20-30 hectoliters per hectare, compared to the 42 hectoliters per hectare permitted by Grand Cru regulations, and in some years, it can drop below 20 hectoliters.

Food Pairing

Richebourg's red fruit and undergrowth aromas pair well with earthy dishes.

• Beef bourguignon, the Burgundy classic
• Saddle of venison, where game meets the wine's savoury side
• Morels or truffle risotto: brings out the aromas of the forest floor
• If pairing with cheese before dessert, choose a ripe Époisses

Fat and protein soften the delicate tannins of Pinot Noir.