La Romanée Grand Cru Pinot Noir

Welp…I didn’t expect to run into the 1999 “La Romanée” again so soon, but the generosity of my brothers in wine is extraordinary so, here we are. For the most part, my previous notes still apply and given that this bottle was part of a special lineup, I find them all the more valid.

This bottle was opened about an hour prior to service. The 1999 “La Romanée” pours a slightly deep ruby with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and sanguine with black cherry, bruised strawberry, some roasted meat, mushrooms, sous bois and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. Still phenomenal old school GC Burgundy though, not quite as rustic as the 2001 Louis Remy, Latricières-Chambertain from earlier in the day…but certainly more old school than the 2005 DRC Romanée St. Vivant. Can’t believe I got to experience this again. The old drinking window holds true. Drink now with patience and through 2049+.

Over the years, I have been very fortunate to experience a few unicorns and I guess it’s time to add one to the list. “La Romanée” is the smallest Grand Cru appellation in all of Burgundy. At just a hair over 2 acres, production from this vineyard totals roughly 300 cases per year. In contrast, DRC’s production of the directly adjacent Romanée-Conti is nearly twice that number. La Romanée is actually a Monopole of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair but production was the responsibility of Bouchard Père & Fils for nearly 30 years. That is, until the 2006 vintage. Since then, Louis-Michel Liger-Belair has shifted that responsibility back to the Domaine.

Opened and poured into a decanter about 30min prior to service. The 1999 “La Romanée” pours a slightly deep ruby with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing, intensely sanguine, and beginning to show some signs of secondary characteristics: black cherry, bruised strawberry, roasted meat, mushrooms, and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and has a slightly ferrous quality, again giving off those sanguine vibes. This is phenomenal, old school GC Burgundy. What a truly special treat. Drink now with patience and through 2049+.

Had to get this one

this 0.84ha slice is the immediate uphill neighbour of romanée conti.
medium intense nose of cherry, raspberry, chocolate, cherry liqueur, wood, traces of tea.
drinking it even makes more sense - high end tannins, minerality, ever long finish...
besides that firm and still youthful structure i'm missing some tension and playful charme...

may i add stephen tanzers review from 2002 here:
"Full deep red. Subtle, aromatically compelling nose of bitter cherry, raspberry, minerals and licorice, along with a distinct aspect of menthol austerity. Tightly wound, cool and backward, with the wine powerful minerality and structure currently dominating. But this uncompromisingly dry grand cru already offers compelling inner-mouth perfume and terrific persistence. A very classy wine with pronounced soil character. (94+ points)"

Brooding, much power in reserve.

This is a fat healthy baby. Great DNA but not nearly mature. Great in 10 years plus

Cena team lider @ grand cru con ale@leal

Extraordinary moment

Charles had this 9 years ago

Paul had this 12 years ago