2005 Richebourg
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2005 Richebourg from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France
The 2005 vintage in Burgundy is often heralded as a year that nature bestowed her benevolence in full force, and the Richebourg from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is no exception to this glorious phenomenon. My explorations through the labyrinth of Burgundy vintages have led me to the doorstep of many an exceptional release, but the 2005 Richebourg holds a particular reverence in my experience.
A Distinguished Vintage with Investment Allure
Encased within its delicate vessel, the 2005 Richebourg presents an articulate dissertation on the very soul of Vosne-Romanée. A wine deeply symbolic of its storied terroir, this vintage expounds with layers of complexity and subtlety that only a domaine of unparalleled craftsmanship like Romanee-Conti could cultivate. There exists a juxtaposition of power and elegance—a hallmark of truly great Burgundian wines—that is on resplendent display in this vintage.
weather Patterns and Winemaking Prowess
An aloof spring gave way to an almost idyllic summer and autumn in 2005, laying down the prelude for grandeur in the ensuing wines. The judicious winemaking wizardry at Domaine de la Romanee-Conti has deftly sculpted these climatic gifts into a masterpiece of viticulture. One finds within its depths an assemblage of intense berry fruit, calibrated with poised acidity and a tectonic structure that predicts not just immediate pleasure but an assured longevity—a key consideration for any discerning wine investor.
The savoury spice nuances entwined with dark cherries and earthy undertones culminate in a lingering finish that bespeaks the unspoken promise of further opulence with time. It is rare to encounter a wine where each constituent component—terroir, climate, craft—fuses with such precision and harmony as in the 2005 Richebourg from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
For collectors and investors alike, this vintage is positioned sublimely at the nexus where pleasure meets prudence—an investable treasure promising both sensorial delight and portfolio fruition. As it strides gracefully through its drinking window, let us accord it our deepest appreciation and acknowledge the 2005 Richebourg as one of the pinnacle achievements of Burgundian viticulture.
Current market price
£56,490.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
4035
Scores and tasting notes
The 2005 Richebourg suggests lightly cooked cherry, lilies, and vanilla-chocolate pot de creme, coming onto the palate with a gentle wave of creamy fruit, almost shockingly open-knit and youthfully generous. Low-toned richness of salted beef broth and a hint of wet stone add hints of gravitas, but despite ample (refined) tannins, there is nothing to restrain a veritable gushing of ripe, juicy, sweet finishing fruit. This might close up for a time, but these early indications suggest one ought to revisit it in 3-5 years and expect it to offer much earlier enjoyment than the Grands-Echezeaux or Romanee-St.-Vivant. 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