Tasted: 2x Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Sometimes a first-world problem arises. This is one of the highest order, mind you. A few weeks ago, I received an invitation in my inbox, and my heart leaped: I got to try DRC. OMG, OMG, OMG.

On July 5th.

Shit, then I'm in the Douro Valley. A dream too, because I've been wanting to see those vineyards along the banks for ages. They might just be the most beautiful wine region in the world.

What a first world problem, huh?

I decided to forgo my trip to the Douro and pass on the ultimate DRC opportunity to Jan Jaap, on the condition that he share the tasting notes.

Here they come!

At the residence

We've been invited to the residence of the French ambassador to the Netherlands to taste two newly launched wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. We're told the wines were opened two hours earlier to give them some extra air. They're still young.

The two wines we'll be tasting are available throughout the country through a special partnership between Le Vin en Direct and Domaine de la Romanèe-Conti. Want to know which restaurants offer DRC wines? Check out the list. here .

We start with red, as it should be In Burgundy. Why, exactly? Apparently, it has to do with Pinot Noir's often higher acidity, which makes it better to start with red and then move on to the rich Chardonnay. Lesson learned.

How do you describe such an iconic wine? I compared it to the first time you had sex. You want it to be amazing, but actually, it's not quite there yet. It will eventually improve. Just like DRC. Okay, it's already fantastic, but it will only get better with bottle aging.

Domaine de la Romanée-conti Vosne-Romanèe 1er Cru Cuvèe Duvault-Blochet 2019

It comes across as a bit closed at first. Forest floor, violet. You immediately smell power, strength, and finesse. I still haven't taken a sip because I'm afraid. Black cherries, small berries. Okay, I've taken a sip now. I'm speechless. This is incredible. Great acidity, but so refined. A slight rustic edge. A bit floral. A hint of blackberry. This is true art in your glass.

As I've been sitting there for half an hour with my remaining sip in the glass, you notice the wine becoming a bit darker and more vegetal. Wonderfully complex. Interestingly, this is only the ninth release of this wine since 1999. In short, there's not much of it.

Then on to white, because you have to move on after all.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton-Charlemagne 2019

Still a bit closed, youthful. Vanilla, cheesecake. A bit of flint, or rather firecrackers In my own words: Super soft, you can taste that it's grand, but it still needs some time. Grotesque, a beautiful word.

Apple, white peach, citrus, chamomile, and a hint of candied ginger. This is really still too young. Where red was already open and generous, this is still lush and a kind of spring in the field. Not a bad thing, because you can taste the potential. If you drink this, open it a day in advance.

Finally

All in all, this was of course a fantastic tasting. Because how often do you taste Domaine de la Romanée-Conti? I had the pleasure of tasting it once before with Nadien and that was La Tâche 1999. That was the textbook example of how beautifully wine can age.

Let's hope we can still enjoy these wines in twenty years. What would they taste like then? Time will tell, and hopefully, I'll win the lottery in the meantime.