Bouchard Père et Fils
La Romanée Grand Cru Pinot Noir
Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
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+.
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+.
Quite tight at first with intense fruit. Quite tightly wound. Gorgeous fruit- edges of iodine, salinity and depth. Great but pretty closed right now.
Quite tight at first with intense fruit. Quite tightly wound. Gorgeous fruit- edges of iodine, salinity and depth. Great but pretty closed right now.
Jan 18th, 2023Intense fruit. Slightly reduced and focused. Lacks a little grace compared to the 02 alongside but delicious fruit.
Intense fruit. Slightly reduced and focused. Lacks a little grace compared to the 02 alongside but delicious fruit.
Jan 18th, 2023Dark fruit with uplifted floral notes- roses, violet. Pretty. Complex and marries intensity with a light touch. Sweet edges and a long finish. Excellent
Dark fruit with uplifted floral notes- roses, violet. Pretty. Complex and marries intensity with a light touch. Sweet edges and a long finish. Excellent
Jan 18th, 2023Soft and relaxed. Tea-like. Gentle fruit. Whispers rather than shouts
Soft and relaxed. Tea-like. Gentle fruit. Whispers rather than shouts
Jan 18th, 2023Tea and dark plum. Floral notes and lovely light mouthfeel. Pure and lifted. Pretty.
Tea and dark plum. Floral notes and lovely light mouthfeel. Pure and lifted. Pretty.
Jan 18th, 2023
Slow to open. Acidic for first few hours. Balanced out in time. Wonderful nose. Cannot mistake for other than a great burgundy. Great leathery base. Bright fruit has departed (which is good). Slight hint of backend oxidation. Drinks wonderfully after 12-18 hrs!
Slow to open. Acidic for first few hours. Balanced out in time. Wonderful nose. Cannot mistake for other than a great burgundy. Great leathery base. Bright fruit has departed (which is good). Slight hint of backend oxidation. Drinks wonderfully after 12-18 hrs!
Dec 31st, 2021
Never disappoints. Actually smelled a lot like a slightly less smoked bacon version of the 82 Jamet in the beginning but really developed further as the evening progressed. Just a wonderful experience with this wine.
Never disappoints. Actually smelled a lot like a slightly less smoked bacon version of the 82 Jamet in the beginning but really developed further as the evening progressed. Just a wonderful experience with this wine.
Jan 28th, 2019
A spectacular nose. Soft black cherry with floral notes of violet and lavender. Some deep and gnarly underbrush too. On the palate gorgeously supple and settled with lovely balanced fruit. Powerful but also pretty and light. Excellent.
A spectacular nose. Soft black cherry with floral notes of violet and lavender. Some deep and gnarly underbrush too. On the palate gorgeously supple and settled with lovely balanced fruit. Powerful but also pretty and light. Excellent.
Dec 14th, 2018