Domaine de la Romanee Conti   Grand Echezeaux

2007 Grand Echezeaux

By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti

2007 Grand Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France

The vintage of 2007 in Burgundy was a capricious one, marked by climatic oscillations that put the vineyards and the attendant winemakers to test. Amongst those offering testimony to their skills is the 2007 Grand Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. This lauded patch of Burgundy screams of pedigree, but it is the winemaker's finesse in such challenging vintages that underscores its gravitas.

 

Complexity Born of Contrast

The 2007 vintage, notably cooler compared to its immediate predecessor, presented a certain vigour and tension within the grapes - a factor now eloquently reflected in the aged bottle. The 2007 Grand Echezeaux is no exception; indeed, it reveals an intriguing blend of resilience and elegance. Even as a more understated rendition from this prestigious estate, the wine exudes a regal complexity.

 

A Dance of Delicacy and Depth

The opulence expected of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is subtly muffled here, replaced by delicate layers of nuanced red fruit and an ethereal, earthy undertone. A gradual approach to ascension characterises this Grand Echezeaux, with red cherry and raspberry notes dancing lithely amidst whispers of tilled earth and warm spices. The palate is greeted by well-integrated tannins that have softened over time, synergising now with a refreshing acidity to extend a finish both vibrant and assuasively lingering. It's a profile that caters not only to connoisseurs appreciative of restraint but also investors who value finesse in their collections.

 

Savouring the Singular

The 2007 Grand Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti encapsulates what can be deemed as an intimate understanding between vine and vintner. It stands as an affecting vintage, one that may not trumpet its presence but rather serenades softly. For the astute wine investor, this offering represents not merely diversity but a revered chapter in Burgundian viticulture, undoubtedly enhancing both palette and portfolio.

In summation, the 2007 vintage with its distinct climate imprint on the renowned Cote de Nuits terroir has rendered the Grand Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti a captivating study in poise and potential - a delightful memento from a year that compelled mastery out of mischief.

Current market price

£35,910.00

12x75cl

Highest score

92

POP score

2992.5

Scores and tasting notes

92

The Domaine de La Romanee-Conti 2007 Grands-Echezeaux exhibits a rich, roasted meat dimension to parallel its sweetness of ripe red raspberry and cherry, with hints of vanilla and caramel adding a confectionary hint, and a flatteringly plush, creamy texture. Cardamom, soy, and ginger add pungency and savor to a long, layered finishing melange. Follow it for at least 10-12 years. Domaine de La Romanee-Conti director Aubert de Villaine perceives both the estate’s 2008 and 2007 collections as vins de garde, and I can’t argue with that assessment, even though when I first tasted the 2007s – soon after they had come out of malo – I harbored reservations, wondering whether to interpret de Villaine’s description of them as “ethereal” to read “ephemeral.” He says holding back the usual 5% share of production for the Domaine’s own cellar was difficult in the greatly reduced 2008 vintage, and that he is already regretting not having arranged to bottle a larger share in magnum. He still had time when I visited in April to reconsider the bottle format for three appellations, which were the only ones I was able to taste, since De Villaine is loathe to show wines in the first 9-12 months after bottling. (I’ll report on the full 2008 collection from bottle at a later date.) If the 2007s here were unusual for that vintage in the degree to which they gained stature in the course of elevage, such behavior was normal when it came to 2008, so that I was not surprised to hear de Villaine remark on a new-found degree of confidence in the stature of that collection. To an even greater degree than in most vintages, success in 2007 and 2008 came down to meticulousness at every stage; to quality of vine material; and to location, in all of which respects no estate in Burgundy has any advantage over the Domaine de La Romanee-Conti. Interestingly, the estate lingered no longer over the picking of their 2008s – from the first of the La Tache on September 27 to the last of the Echezeaux on October 6 – than they had over the 2007s, which were picked from September 1-11. The inclusion of stems was lowered to less than half in 2007, incidentally, but in 2008 was typically closer to three-quarters. Vendange entier is a technique not only time-honored and in continuous use at the Domaine de La Romanee-Conti (even when it fell out of favor at most Burgundy estates in the waning 20th century), but one which de Villaine and cellarmaster Bernard Noblet have subjected to repeated testing, so as to establish in any given vintage the right balance between 100% de-stemmed (“which lacks something by way of complexity,” says de Villaine) and 100% (“which can be too marked by the stems,” he continues). Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2010

Vintage performance