1998 Daniel Rion Vosne Romanee Village

Domaine Daniel Rion is a 45-acre estate based in Premeaux. It was started in 1955 when Daniel Rion inherited 5 acres and began growing grapes to sell to negociants. Starting in 1978 Rion’s sons joined the family business and the domaine added vineyards, built a larger cellar and started selling wine under their own label. Today the estate is still family run and has parcels in 18 appellations. The estate has a Grand Cru parcel in Clos Vougeot as well as Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-Saints-Georges.

Vosne-Romanée is the most prestigious appellation in Burgundy. Its 449 acres of vineyards are in and around the village of Vosne-Romanée and they include renowned Grand Cru vineyards which produce some of the world’s most coveted – and costly —wines. The Grands Crus are Richebourg, La Romanée, Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and La Tâche. The Grand Crus Échezeaux and Grands- Échezeaux are actually located in the neighboring village of Flagey-Échezeaux, but legally they can be sold under the Vosne-Romanée appellation. There are also seventeen Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanée. Wine writer Clive Coates has called Vosne-Romanée “the greatest Pinot Noir village on earth” and notes that the appellation’s style “is for wines which are rich, austere, sensual, masculine and aristocratic.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.