Domaine de la Romanee Conti   Echezeaux

2005 Echezeaux

By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti

2005 Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France

In the realm of fine Burgundian wines, the 2005 vintage stands as a beacon of excellence, and particularly so for the 2005 Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. As I muse upon this vintage, memories of an impeccable harvest season in Burgundy flood back—the climatic conditions were nigh on idyllic, with the perfect confluence of warm days and cool nights crafting a stage for Pinot Noir to express its most profound characteristics.

 

A Vintage Of Precision And Balance

The 2005 vintage across Burgundy was heralded for its structured tannins and profound longevity—an assertion that rings true when considering the 2005 Echezeaux. In its youth, this wine beckoned with a promise of greatness, an assurance that has only been emboldened with age. The palate is seductive and complex; an expansive range of flavours from ripe black cherry to subtle hints of clove and smoked earth evoke the unmistakable terroir of Echezeaux.

 

An Investment-worthy Elixir

This offering from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is not merely a standout performer poised gracefully on the palate; it represents an astute addition to any fine wine investor's portfolio. The impeccable pedigree of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti coupled with the extraordinary character of the 2005 vintage makes for an asset with remarkable potential for appreciation.

Indeed, the sheer magnetism of the 2005 Echezeaux is difficult to overstate. It’s as though every element—from its nuanced perfumed bouquet to its silken texture—speaks of a masterful composition that resonates deeply with both wine aficionados and collectors alike.

In summation, the 2005 Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti shines brilliantly amongst its peers. A study in the artistry of meticulous viticulture married with an exceptional vintage, it is a wine that not only elevates one's tasting experience but also serves as a formidable cornerstone within the sanctuary of investment-grade wines.

Current market price

£39,270.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

2805

Scores and tasting notes

94-95

The 2005 Echezeaux delivers ravishingly sweet, high-toned aromas of black raspberry, maraschino, marzipan, marmalade and iodine. It saturates the palate with sweet, ripe fruit and inner-mouth perfume, while introducing layers of fresh meat and shrimp-shell minerality. The texture is amazingly creamy and polished, and the long, refined finish adds an alluring hint of mocha. Superb saturation of ultra-ripe fruit but with freshness; remarkable concentration yet elegance, lift, indeed near weightlessness: this is 2005 at its best. The temptation to drink this in its early years will, I suspect, be irresistible ... let’s hope so anyway. It would be a shame for this beauty to be locked away as a collectible, even if it is capable of long-aging. Once the grapes in these fabled vineyards had reached a potential alcohol of 13%, reports Aubert de Villaine, he was ready to pick, because conditions had seldom been so conducive to perfect ripeness (including that of the stems). It was all done in a week, commencing with La Tache and Romanee Conti, and finishing on September 23 with Romanee-St.-Vivant (and Montrachet, on which I shall report at a future date). De Villaine intended to bottle in March or April by gravity in six-barrel lots, as has become general practice here over the past decade. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661.

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2007

Vintage performance