Échézeaux Pinot Noir

Amazing. You can taste the pedigree. Indian spice with balanced fruit and oak. Texture was sublime

Casually poured double-blind from a brown bag at the very end of the night while our heads were still spinning from the incredible quality on display. The senses were overloaded. It was blood lust. And then…I smelled my glass. An overwhelming feeling of serenity washed over me. It’s was almost as if a pair of noise-cancelling headphones were placed in my ears. This was different. It commanded attention. This wasn’t a wine from the Rhône. It smelled like Burgundy…and it was special. There was brilliant structure accompanying the most sublime fruits and exotic spices. I looked up at my buddy Matt who was also nosing his glass and our eyes met. He was also spellbound. He then quietly declared to me, “this is DRC”. I thought to myself, surely no. This late? After everything we just had?? Until now, I had never tried DRC so I had no frame of reference but Matt seemed pretty confident. Then some of the others started to fall into the trance. Everyone was falling over themselves. The bottle was pulled from the bag by our host. And there it was. A 2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Échézeaux. It was just beautiful. I was different now…almost like losing my virginity. What a sensational nightcap.

When you have the opportunity to drink a wine like this I do not worry about infanticide because I might be a corpse when this is at its apex. Decanted 2.5 hours . Head spinning aromatics of flowers, spice , and plums. One should bottle a perfume with that nose. I always ask myself can the palate equal the nose and in this case the palate does exactly that. The palate seduces you with pure elegance despite the enormous concentration of fruit. Delicious flavors of perfectly ripe fruit that somehow takes great structure and turns it into silk. Tremendous density and energy that handles the vintage heat effortlessly. Most importantly the bottle was shared with my friend who made my wine journey in life possible, if that was factored into my rating this wine would score a 100.

Absolutely gorgeous purity of fruit. If you are going to murder a child this is a good candidate

70’s not far behind 71...not as focused but lineage is there.

Is 2017 young to drink DRC? Sure. But 2014 was corked, so 2017 to the rescue! 2017 is still insanely expressive and welcoming even at this stage with its expansive and velvety texture, elite depth and riveting energy and concentration. It has impeccable balance and an ultra persistent finish, surely to be a star as it further develops and gains complexity. This is my 3rd time having 2017 DRC, and all have been pretty darn accessible. Even La Tâche. There’s no wrong time to drink DRC 💫

2014 vintage

Darker fruit. Some wildness and a herby undertow.a soft steminess. Very transparent and defined. A lovely wild, savory quality. Light and delicate. Very good.

Fresh bright red fruit. Very light and defined with some spice and some tangy sourness. Vivid and slightly confected at the edges. Pretty and there’s life ahead.

Ok... do I really need to explain this wine. How about perfection. Hands-down. red cherries velvety tannins. Soft perfect acidity. YUM