2009 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Corton Grand Cru, Prince Florent de Merode 1x750ml

Antonio Galloni 95

The 2009 Corton is a showstopper. The huge, boisterous bouquet is the first sign the Corton is just as dazzling from bottle as it was from barrel. Layers of fruit saturate the palate as this flashy, exuberant wine continues to put on weight as it sits in the glass. This is a decidedly opulent Burgundy that pushes the boundaries of what longtime DRC drinkers expect from the winery, but it is a gorgeous, striking wine in its own way. The 2009 is a great first vintage for the Corton. [Antonio Galloni, 04/01/2012]

Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039

Stephen Tanzer 93

Good deep red. Sexy, high-toned perfume of liqueur-like red berries, orange zest, minerals and truffle. Penetrating, savory and intense, delivering an exhilarating combination of creamy texture and energy. Wonderfully rich flavors of strawberry, raspberry, smoke and minerals complicated by chocolate and wild herbs. Firmly structured, very long wine with tannins fully enrobed by fruit. A strong first release for this wine, which is made from 2.4 hectares of vines in the grand crus Corton Renardes, Bressandes and Clos du Roi, which DRC leased in late 2008 from the Domaine Prince Florent de Merode. Incidentally, I can’t recall the last time I began a Burgundy cellar visit with a grand cru. [Stephen Tanzer, 03/01/2012]

Wine Advocate 95

The 2009 Corton is a showstopper. The huge, boisterous bouquet is the first sign the Corton is just as dazzling from bottle as it was from barrel. Layers of fruit saturate the palate as this flashy, exuberant wine continues to put on weight as it sits in the glass. This is a decidedly opulent Burgundy that pushes the boundaries of what longtime DRC drinkers expect from the winery, but it is a gorgeous, striking wine in its own way. The 2009 is a great first vintage for the Corton. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s 2009s have turned out just as brilliantly as I had hoped. The wines reflect the signature qualities of the year, but never lose their essential classicism. Long-time DRC fans know the domaine bottles in six-barrel lots, which naturally introduces a level of bottle variation that is not found in most other wines. I hope the massive amount of information that has recently come to light regarding counterfeit wines and their proliferation might be the catalyst for the domaine to consider bottling their wines in one homogenous lot, as is common for the vast majority of high-quality wines throughout the world. Once the domaine’s wines mature in 20-30 years it will be impossible to tell the difference between ‘normal’ bottle variation, poorly stored bottles and very good fakes. Certainly consumers who are willing and able to pay the prices these wines fetch are at the very least deserving of a consistent product. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661 [Antonio Galloni, 30/04/2012]

Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039