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Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru, Romanee Saint Vivant 1999

Romanee-Saint-Vivant

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$5,488.00

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Sub RegionRomanee Conti
RegionBurgundy
CountryFrance
ProducerDomaine de la Romanee Conti

Introduction

An iconic red Burgundy producer, Domaine de la Romanee Conti is the standard that all makers of Pinot Noir are judged by worldwide. Decades of consistently producing amazing wines from the best sites in Burgundy, regardless of vintage, will do this. DRC owns a staggering 28 hectares of Grand Crus with additional land agreements in Corton Charlemagne. While the sites are fantastic, the domaine’s farming and vineyard care produce such unrivalled results.

Iconic

They have worked organically since 1986 and began trying biodynamics in the 1990s, a fact that isn’t surprising considering that Lalou Bize Leroy was a co-manager with Aubert de Villaine until 1992. The vineyards have reached a general state of equilibrium; though organic fertilizer is still used occasionally, the vineyards naturally end up producing roughly between 25-30 hectoliters per hectare. The vineyards are plowed more by horse than tractor, preventing compacting of the soil.

Average vine age is roughly 40 years old throughout the estate. The vine material for any replanting comes from heritage cuttings from Romanee Conti and La Tache, largely from when they were replanted in 1945. Harvest generally takes 10-14 days with a team of 100-plus people, with a second sorting of fruit happening at the cuverie. The goal is to minimize any impact on the fruit as it comes into the winery.

Vinification is traditional, with a large portion of the stems retained and the grapes cooled to slow fermentation in small vats. After primary fermentation, the wine is moved to 100% new barrels, almost exclusively from Francois Freres and a few from Taransaud. The wines are racked after finishing malolactic fermentation and then spend another 15 months in barrel prior to bottling.

The Reds

The reds are never fined or filtered. The estate makes a number of wines that it does not sell, but also makes a small amount of Montrachet. While this wine is as sought after as any from the domaine, it shows differently than most other producers Montrachet, with a full, generous texture, weight and ripeness. The reds show the domaine’s unique style of elegance wrapped around an incredible structure all while expressing lifted aromatics. Drinking the wines is an ethereal experience, with their wonderful expressions of sense of place. While the price on the wines has continued to rise over the years, it is hard to argue that they’re not the pinnacle of Burgundy. They continue to set the bar that every other producer in Burgundy aspires to.

Location

Domaine de la Romanee Conti, La Tache Grand Cru, La Tache 1993
La Tache
Available
3
750
$6,499.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, La Tache Grand Cru, La Tache 2017
La Tache
Available
1
750
$4,535.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Montrachet Grand Cru, Montrachet 2018
Montrachet
Available
1
750
$10,000.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru, Richebourg 1999
Richebourg
Available
1
750
$6,888.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru, Richebourg 2014
0
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru, Richebourg 2019
Richebourg
Available
1
750
$6,545.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru, Romanee Saint Vivant 1999
Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Available
1
750
$5,488.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru, Romanee Saint Vivant 2011
Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Available
1
750
$3,999.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru, Romanee Saint Vivant 2014
Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Available
1
750
$3,595.00
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru, Romanee Saint Vivant 2019
Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Available
1
750
$4,299.00

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100% Sangiovese is grown on dark galestro schist soils, vinified by micro terroir split by elevation and exposure. The winemaking is generally the same across all the red wines, with fermentation in stainless steel followed by time in large neutral Botti. The wine is then placed back into stainless steel tanks before spending time in bottle prior to release.

Podere Colla has been growing grapes in the Piedmont region since the 1700s, but it wouldn't be surprising if you haven't heard of them. Only having recently begun producing their own wines, their Patriarch Beppe Colla made wines at the Bonardi and Prunotto wineries from the 1950s through the 1990s--becoming an absolute legend in Piedmont.

Prieler is a second-generation estate run on what was an historic farm, converted in the 1970s, on the western side of Lake Neusidl. The estate focuses on both traditional Austrian and Burgundian varietals. The family’s meticulous work in the vineyards, where soils range from iron rich brown loam to limestone, utilizes cover crops and strict canopy management to maintain restraint and elegance in the wines. Winemaking is low intervention and minimalist, with gentle pressing and a combination of both stainless steel and neutral barrels used, pending variety.

The Dauvissat domaine was established in the 1970s by Robert Dauvissat, but his son Rene pushed the reputation and holdings of the domaine to where they are today. Rene’s son Vincent started working at the domaine in the late 70s and still oversees production. Despite the current challenges of the climate in Chablis, the domaine's old vines and significant holdings in the best sites in Chablis result in extraordinary quality on a consistent basis.

As a collector of these wines for two decades, it has been interesting to observe perception versus reality. Raveneau is often given an edge over Dauvissat when discussing great producers in Chablis, although most agree that they are the best producers in the region. In reality, numerous blind side-by-sides over the years have revealed much more of an even match. Especially considering the meteoric rise in prices for Raveneau, I hope that collectors look to Dauvissat and understand that while different, the wines deserve to be on an equal footing with Raveneau.

Based on the current level of respect for the Rostaing wines, one would assume that they have been around for generations. In reality, the domaine was started just a few decades ago. Sort of.

When Rene Rostaing founded the estate in 1971, he was working as a notary. He continued his work while moonlighting as a winemaker until the estate grew to a size that could support him. He was lucky in that while he was not a winemaker, his uncle, the famous Marius Gentaz, was there to guide him over the years. He then married into the Dervieux family, adding Albert Dervieux as another shepherd along his winemaking journey. When both Gentaz and Dervieux retired their parcels, he purchased their vineyards, quickly putting him in the position of managing arguably the best dirt in the Northern Rhone.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more iconic American winery than Ridge Vineyards. With a history dating back to 1962, they've changed very little since that first vintage. They are masters of making cabernet sauvignon and what is perhaps the most American grape, zinfandel. Their wines are elegant, with a clear sense of place, and are some of the most age-worthy wines produced in the United States. This legacy is largely due to Paul Draper, the legendary winemaker who held his position from 1969 until his retirement at the age of 80 in 2016. While Paul’s gift for winemaking was clear, it was his ability to let the sites he worked with shine by showing not just their terroir but also vintage character.

Robert Groffier is a relatively new domaine when speaking of Burgundy. Started in the 1950s by Jules Groffier, it is now run by the third generation, Nicolas Groffier. Owning just under eight hectares, the domaine is located in Morey St. Denis but has holdings on both the north and south side of the village.

Located in the town of Tadten, not far from the Hungarian border, Sattler is now run by the fourth generation of the family, Erich Sattler. Outside of some changes in the vineyards, he has kept the estate consistent with previous generations.

Perhaps the definition of cult California cabernet, Screaming Eagle is considered to be the Holy Grail among many collectors. The founders made what was essentially a hobby into one of the most collectible wines in the world.

When Jean Phillips bought original vineyard in 1986, it was already planted to a cabernet. From there, she added cabernet franc, merlot, and more cabernet sauvignon vines. When the vines came of age, Phillips reached out to Heidi Barret, a then up-and-coming winemaker in the valley, to produce the first wine for the 1992 vintage. The release gained significant acclaim, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Thierry’s journey to the Loire was not traditional. After moving from Bordeaux in the early 1990s, he immediately connected with Charly Foucault from Clos Rougeard. Buying in entirely into the practice of biodynamic, he not only converted his entire estate but also became of the biggest proponents the practice both in France and world wide.

Theirry works parcels in both Saumur (for his whites) and Saumur Champigny (for his reds). Thanks to time spent in the vineyard and his biodynamic dedication, he has been able to identify parcels by soil type to individually farm, vinify, and bottle.

Egon Müller is arguably the most legendary estate in Germany. Their family has owned the property since 1797 and they have produced some of the most sought-after and age-worthy wines in Germany’s history. They own almost one third of the Scharzhofberg vineyard, a Grand Cru equivalent and the crown jewel in the family’s holdings. The wines walk a razor's edge with an uncanny balance between the exotic spice and generous fruit as well as the laser focus and acidity.

For a very long time, the wines from Dönnhoff flew under the radar. Riesling in general took a back seat for many collectors, with only the some aware of the magic that happens when the sweet wines have bottle age. Thanks to the likes of Weingut Keller, Egon Muller, and many others, the collector market has awoken to the possibility of great Riesling. The wines from the Dönnhoff family certainly belong in that category. The family has been quietly farming and producing some of the most compelling from Germany, now considered a guiding light in their home region of the Nahe.

Located in the Kremstal on the edge of Senftenberg Mountain, the history of Weingut Nigl is clear when you first set eyes on the estate. Wine production only started in 1985 under the vision of Martin Nigl, while the family was farmers for 200 years prior.

In terms of German wine estates, Robert Weil is a relative newcomer. Established in 1875 in the heart of some of the best vineyards in the Rheingau, they made their home in the village of Kiedrich, an area known for its wine as early as 950 AD. The estate has significant holdings in some of the finest vineyards in the region, Turmberg and Gräfenberg in Kiedrich, which has further cemented its recognition beyond the international acclaim it receives for being in the Rheingau.

There is a fine line between decadence and laser-like finesse. The wines of Willi Schaefer walk that line, with a crystalline focus that seems next to impossible. The wines drink beautifully when young, but have the ability to age as well as any from Riesling.

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