2009 Echezeaux
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2009 Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France
The 2009 vintage stood as a pivotal year for the connoisseurs of Burgundy, a season that blessed Domaine de la Romanee-Conti with climatic generosity. It is this very year that the intricate elements of terroir, expertise, and nature conjoined to bear the enigmatic Echezeaux, the pride of red Burgundian lustre.
A Vintage Marked by Opulence and Precision
The 2009 Echezeaux displays an admirable balance, supporting complex layers of flavours and aromas that have flourished with age. Considering the broader narrative of Echezeaux wines, this vintage is particularly distinguished by its precocious charm and accessibility. To encounter such depth intertwined harmoniously with readiness for enjoyment upon release was a hallmark of 2009 across Burgundy - but nowhere more poignantly articulated than in the glass that cradles this treasure from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
Terroir-Touched Revelation
What sets the 2009 Echezeaux apart is its plenitude in bouquets—whiffs of ripe cherry, blackcurrant and delicate violet notes rise to greet the olfactory senses. Yet even as it harks to hedonistic luxury, one finds finesse—a quality not unseemly for those versed in the intricate dances of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s Echezeaux lineage.
Tantalising tannins play along the palate leaving traces of a warm summer's endowment; the ideal precipitation and sunshine during the growing season allowed grapes to develop into their full expression effortlessly—a complexity delivered with a lingering finish that entreats you to recall its array long after the final sip.
For fine wine investors seeking to embellish their collection with a laudable vintage poised for graceful ageing while boasting immediate attractiveness, opportunities such as this come few and far between. The investment value held within each bottle of 2009 Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti lies not only in its captivating character today but in its promise for tomorrow.
In summation, the distinct narrative of 2009 has been woven into every sip; this Echezeaux encapsulates a vignette of Burgundian mastery—an evocative investment piece crafted by both nature and human hand. For those privileged enough to discover this elixir within their cellar, patience will yield returns as rich as its vibrant crimson hue.
Market price (HKD)
HK$225,050.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
2140
Scores and tasting notes
This is not a great showing for the 2009 Echezeaux. Today the structural elements seem to dominate the wine’s balance. I find little of the seduction and charm the Echezeaux showed when its was in barrel. It is hard to believe this is a representative bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. 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 - The Wine Advocate, 25 April 2012