GRAND CRU - RICHEBOURG
VINTAGE 2012
Burghound.com Allen Meadows October 2013
(From vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; 100% whole cluster vinification). A distinctly toasty nose of subtle spice, earth and very cool yet ripe dark berry fruit aromas are trimmed in plenty of floral character. There is gorgeous intensity to the mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that possess outstanding delineation on the extract-rich mid-palate before terminating in a refined but overtly powerful and muscular finish that delivers strikingly good length. This too is decidedly built for longer-term cellaring. (93-95)/2030+
VINTAGE 2011
Burghound.com Allen Meadows January 2013
(From vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; 100% whole cluster vinification). A highly restrained and incredibly subtle nose speaks of a huge array of spice elements as well as a panoply of floral, red berry fruit and exotic teas. The superbly intense, powerful, focused and wonderful rich flavors terminate in a palate staining, austere, brooding and balanced finish that seems to go and on. This is incredibly compact and serious and there is so much material that it wouldn’t surprise me much if this ultimately exceeded my predicated range. Note carefully through that this is absolutely not a wine for early consumption and 20 years will probably be necessary for this to reach its full apogee (93-95) 2029+
VINTAGE 2010
Burghound.com Allen Meadows January 2012
(from vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; 90% whole cluster vinification). An intensely floral and gloriously spicy nose of ripe and highly complex black cherry liqueur and rose petal aromas leads to impressively dense and brooding large-scaled flavors that possess fantastic depth and positively stunning length. I have experience with almost every Mongeard Richebourg since the first vintage in 1984 and I have never seen one with more potential than this one though not surprisingly, patience will be needed. In a word, brilliant. (94-96)/2030+
Vineyard Brands - USA
The deepest color in the cellar. What a nose – very, very classy. The house style, plus long, long pruney flavors with granular tannins, but a juicy, big fat middle. A massive fruit ball, like meaty gravy. Long on the palate with bursting acidity. Very fine and intense. 19.5/20
VINTAGE 2009
Vineyard Brands - USA
Good deep color, the deepest of all the wines. A very floral nose with Pinot class. On the palate, the typical malted milk, cocoa powder style of Richebourg. Good length with no tannin. Good, silky flavors, round and creamy but should be greater. 18.7/20
Burghound.com Allen Meadows January 2011
(from vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; 80% whole cluster vinification). A notably floral, spicy and very cool nose is trimmed in noticeable but reasonable wood and leads to very rich, round and velvety big-bodied and powerful flavors that culminate in a moderately oaked but strikingly long finish. Again, the oak is not subtle on the palate but there appears to be more than enough concentration to handle it. (91-94)/2024+
VINTAGE 2008
Vineyard Brands - USA
Very deep in color. It has the classiest nose, and it should. Round, very silk textured fruit. Very expansive and thick, it has a great flavor extension. Meaty with lots of class. Orange burnt butter. Quite a bit of oak but quite powerful. 18.5/20
Burghound.com Allen Meadows March 2010
(From vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; 80% whole cluster vinification). Here the aromatic profile is completely different because while this too is on the generously oaked side, the spicy red, blue, black and floral aromas are reserved to the point of being downright reluctant and the big, robust, powerful, intense and rich flavors are also tight yet the underlying material is notable and if not super dense, then certainly up to the task of absorbing the wood, all wrapped in a youthfully austere but long and impeccably balanced finish. A promising Riche. (92-94)/2023+
Wine Spectator April 2011
A beautiful, silky red, with sweet cherry, flowers and spices. The structure is here, but it’s well integrated, and this offers charm and a sense of place. There is a finely woven aftertaste of berry mineral and oak spice. Best from 2014 trough 2028. – 94 points
VINTAGE 2007
Burghound.com Allen Meadows Février 2009
(from vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; whole cluster vinification). Here the nose is actually quite similar to that of the Grands Ech though the fruit is denser and perhaps ever so slightly riper with a floral component and leads to serious, driving, vibrant and well balanced, concentrated and broad-shouldered flavors blessed with plenty of dry extract and well-integrated wood. Despite the apparent size and weight, this is really a Riche of finesse rather than overt muscle though readers should note that this is built to age and will definitely require it as the cool and restrained personality of a young Richebourg is very much present. (91-93)/2015+”
Vineyard Brands - USA
Good color, less deep than the Grands- Echézeaux. Pure milk chocolate and creamed coffee. On the palate, as silky as can be. Intense, luscious, long, long flavors. Powerful acidity, long on the palate. Smoke, earth, fire-grilled nuts, orange crème brûlé. Very fine, elegant; soil, earthy but the texture is amazing, wow! 19.2/20
Wine Spectator June 2010
“An aromatic red, packing spice, floral and red berry notes. Supple and elegant, with a vibrant structure, building to a long, spice-filled aftertaste. This is approachable now, yet will only improve with a few years of aging. Best from 2012 through 2028.”
Noted 93/100
VINTAGE 2006
Burghound.com Allen Meadows Février 2008
(from vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper totaling .31 ha; whole cluster vinification). A slightly cooler, distinctly floral and higher-toned nose offers up reluctant black berry and opulent spice notes that continue onto the mineral-driven, powerful and well-muscled broad-shouldered flavors that possess another dimension of depth and length. The GE is impressive but this is seriously good with a very firm finish where the stem tannins can be discerned. In a word, terrific. (92-95)/2018+”
Vineyard Brands - USA
Lighter in color than the Grands Echézeaux. Very oaky on the nose; a little spritzy on the palate but then it melts in your mouth. Raisined, round, classy; no tannin but lush fruit with creamy orange and caramel candy. Classy with some dry tannin on the finish. 18.9/20
VINTAGE 2005
Vineyard Brands - USA
Dark crimson in color. A nose of bacon and milk chocolate. On the palate it’s lush and powerful, robust with multiple layers of thick, oily, solid, intense fruit. The flavors go on and on, with the signature coffee/mocha flavors. Ripe, elegant and superb. 19.7/20
Burghound.com Allen Meadows Février 2007
(from vines adjacent to those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti in Richebourg proper; whole cluster vinification) a distinctly floral nose that is strikingly complex as well as spicy, pure and elegant merges into powerful and punchy flavors where the stem tannins are evident but they ‘re already beginning to integrate on the hugely long finish. This is a big yet refined effort that will need every bit of a least a decade to really be at its beat. Readers should note that the mouth feel here is distinctly different from of the prior wines due to the whole cluster vinification. (92-94) 2017+.
VINTAGE 2004
Vineyard Brands - USA
Good ruby/crimson color. A very classy nose, very Pinot on the palate. Creamy, succulent, caramel with a bit of orange and multi-layered fruit with a meaty, oaky, leathery finish. 18.4/20