1991 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru

It has been a few years since I tasted the 1991 Grands-Echézeaux from DRC. Now 29 years old, it has an ethereal, pure bouquet of vivacious red fruit, becoming floral with aeration and developing an unexpected subtle garrigue note. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, superb backbone and a keen line of acidity. There is more dark fruit toward the finish, which is more sinewy than I recollected, implying that this could motor nicely for another few years.

My first encounter with the 1991 Grand Echezeaux was a very positive one. It has a heaven-sent bouquet with quite brilliant delineation that really shows off the quality of the terroir – just pure unfettered Pinote. The palate is medium-bodied, supple at first but with admirable concentration: ebullient and vivacious red cherries intermingling with raspberry and a slight ferrous note. Good structure, as usual, with a well-knit and very focused finish that lingers gloriously in the mouth. Bon vin! Tasted November 2013. When an acquaintance approached me brandishing a bottle of Richebourg from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, I would never have guessed the vintage (though knowing him I should have guessed.)