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The 1971 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have tasted once before. This bottle might be even better than my first encounter. It has a really beautiful, almost haunting bouquet with pressed flowers, Earl Grey, brown spices and sage infusing the red berry fruit. It is bestowed with profound complexity so that you lose yourself in the aromas. The palate is perfectly balanced with a fine bead of acidity, harmonious and elegant, especially for a Richebourg, sashaying towards the finish with immense depth and presence. Dare I say that juxtaposing the two together, this touches the 1971 Romanée-Conti. Yes, it's that good. Spellbinding. Tasted at the Romanée-Conti dinner at the Connaught Hotel.
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Neal Martin
Allen Meadows, Burghound
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Two years ago, in this room, I tasted the 1971 La Tâche from jeroboam, a wine that remains indelibly etched in my mind as one of the greatest Burgundies I have ever had the privilege of drinking. The 1971 Richebourg evokes vivid memories of that wine. Although it is not as profound, the Richebourg offers notable sensuality and captivating allure from the very first taste. Blood orange, cranberry, mint, rose petal and anise add shades of nuance to this ethereal, utterly sublime Burgundy.
The 1971 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was poured from magnum. It had a powerful, almost burly bouquet as you would expect from this vineyard—perhaps autumnal, brown leaves and a cold Sunday afternoon, touches of Earl Grey infused the dark berry fruit (darker than the 1971 Grands Echézeaux tasted alongside incidentally). The palate is medium-bodied with a fine line of acidity, hints of dried orange peel infusing the black and red fruit, all with impressive energy considering that this is now the same age as yours truly. Perhaps I found more breeding on the aforementioned Grands Echézeaux, and yet this is still a gorgeous mature Burgundy that will continue to give immense pleasure over the next decade for those privileged with the experience. Tasted November 2016.
About the producer
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or simply “DRC” is without doubt the most famous domaine in Burgundy and one of the most famous producers on earth. The Grand Cru vineyard from which it takes its name produces the world’s most expensive wine by a long margin.