2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru

Deep ruby. Heady, violets and mushrooms. Very glorious and gorgeous already but obviously still embryonic. Great depth and vibrancy, This is less obviously sweet at this stage than in many other years but no shame on it for that. Long and very finely etched. The mildest hint of parmesan but mainly white truffles – really convincing, for the long term! (JR)

(like La Tache, this was still on its lees and not yet racked) Deep, slightly reduced, smoky aromas. Fat and sweet but succulent, harmonious acids give it a penetrating quality. Powerful flavors of red cherry and spice. Quite firm on the aftertaste. This component will be racked only for the final assemblage From a second barrel, which got a microbullage rather than a racking: complex nose of humus and herbs; sweeter and suppler in the mouth, with less gas; smoother, sweeter and longer on the back. From a third barrel, racked in April: expressive, perfumed nose of red cherry and licorice. Sweet and spicy but tight in the mouth, with a firm structure and lovely finesse. But showing less fat today than the previous two samples.