1999 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Cuvee Duvault-Blochet

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is unquestionably Burgundy’s most famous estate, and among serious oenophiles, it may be the most famous wine estate in the world. Its Grand Cru Pinot Noirs and one Chardonnay regularly command some of the highest prices for any wine produced anywhere in the world, and according to many reviewers the wines are generally celestial. Though its history is complicated, the domaine is now owned by several long-time Burgundy families, with some owners holding just a very few shares. The 62.5 acres of vineyard owned by the domaine are planted to Pinot Noir and a small amount of Chardonnay. The wines produced are Grands Echezeaux, Echezeaux, Romanee-St.-Vivant, Montrachet, Richebourg, Romanee-Conti, and La Tache. Of the Pinot Noirs, the rarest is the Romanee-Conti, with an annual production of only 450 cases. The most plentiful, theoretically, is La Tache, produced in quantities of about 1,900 cases annually.

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.