Vosne-Romanee (Cote de Nuits)

Wines listed under the Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits Region:

• Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, La Tache
• Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Richebourg
• Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Romanee-Conti
• Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Romanee-St-Vivant
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, La Romanee
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Aux Reignots
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee Clos du Chateau
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee la Colombiere
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne Romanee les Suchots
• Domaine Dujac, Romanee St Vivant
• Domaine Emmanuel Rouget, Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux
• Domaine Henri Jayer, Richebourg Grand Cru
• Domaine Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru Cros Parantoux
• Domaine Leroy, Richebourg Grand Cru
• Domaine Leroy, Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
• Domaine Leroy, Vosne les Beaux Monts
• Domaine Leroy, Vosne les Brulees
• Domaine Leroy, Vosne les Genaivrieres
• Domaine Meo-Camuzet, Richebourg
• Domaine Meo-Camuzet, Vosne Romanee les Brulees
• Olivier Bernstein, Romanee-St-Vivant Gran Cru, 2017

Vosne-Romanee Wine Region Summary

Known as the Pearl of the Cote d’Or, Vosne Romanee is one of the most prestigious vineyards in the whole of burgundy, home to some of the region’s finest and most expensive wines. Ratified by the decree of 11 September 1936, the Vonse-Romanee appellation d’Origine Controlée is located in the heart of the Cote de Nuits, lying to the north of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

The relatively small Village is only 1.5 square miles in total area and boasts 6 grand cru sites (4 of which are under monopoly control) as well as 14 premier cru vineyards. The total area under production is roughly 175 hectares, 25 ha of which are the grand cru vineyards, 57 hectares of premier cru, with the remaining 95 ha contributing towards the Vosne Romanée village classification. As per the 1936 classification the wines produced by the neighbouring Flagey-Echezeaux are also considered part of Vosne. Its home to around 60 hectares of vineyards, two of which are grand cru (Echezeaux and Grand Echezeaux) as well as three premier cru sites (beux monts, les rouges and en orveaux).

Vosne Romanee boasts a long and rich history. From very early on it was recognised as an excellent area for vineyards, in 460 AD, Clotaire spoke of the vines of the Bez abbey in Vosne being given over to wine-growing monks and in 890 the monastery of Saint-Vivant was founded, the lands of which would eventually become the origin of the Grand Cru of Romanee Saint Vivant. It was also in Vosne that the Dukes of Burgundy had their hunting lodge, a property that would later be owned by the Prince of Conti, whose name originated the most famous wine in the world ‘La Romanée Conti’.

Up until 1789, most of the vineyards belonged to monastic orders and major lords, but with the revolution came a change of ownership. Despite the major upheaval, the vineyard of ‘La Romanee’ was eventually acquired by the wealthy Croonembourg family and had by 1866 become so famous that the village of Vosne appended its name in order to become Vosne-Romanée.

The infestation of phylloxera at the end of the 19^th century caused more turmoil, as vineyards once again changed hands with owners unable to care for them properly. Despite this uneven and tumultuous period, Vosne-Romanee still emerged in the 20^th century as one of the leading appellations in the whole of Burgundy, producing some of the world’s most profound and exhilarating wines.

Embedded in a valley lined with limestone, from its vantage point the hills of Vosne-Romanee offer a fantastic view of the plains of the Bresse region. Vineyards here are very narrow because of the landscape formed by the thick layers of Limestone and the best are located on the slopes of the hills.

The soil of Vosne’s vineyards is defined by experts as ‘brown chalky soil’, resulting from a combination of clay and limestone. There is just a thin coat of earth which covers the vine-making slope, even thinner for those vineyards planted above the village. The Grand Crus in Vosne are located on the mid-slope where limestone is close to the surface and the thin layer of earth cover makes the vine suffer. This is also where drainage is best, and this unique combination of limestone, clary and rocks is where the grapes reach their best maturity every year.

It was Courtépée who in the 18^th century who wrote that ‘there are no common wines in Vosne’ and whilst there is certainly a degree of truth to that especially when you consider the unique characteristics of each of the grand cru, one can surmise as to say the wines produced in Vosne are rounded, fleshy, sensual and velvety. Undoubtedly the greatest of which exhibit remarkable richness, depth and complexity of flavour as well as the ability to age effortlessly.

Whilst there are no strict rules in place (and in this day and age its commonplace for wines to be open and drunk much sooner) the Grand Crus are best drunk with at least 20 years of age, the premiers optimal from 10-20 years and the village wines most accessible from 3-10 years.

Romanée Saint-Vivant (RSV)

The Grand Cru vineyard of Romanée Saint-Vivant (RSV) is a rising star in the global fine wine circuit, producing small quantities of the world’s most nuanced and desired Pinot Noirs. With the world’s love of Burgundy seemingly growing at an endless pace, more fine wine lovers are appreciating that RSV offers up wonderful, distinct wines that deserve their own place in a Burgundy collection alongside its Vosne-Romanée neighbours, the world-wonder Romanée-Conti vineyard to the southwest and Richebourg to the northwest

The thirst for RSV wines among wine collectors is illustrated by some of the soaring prices for its wines. For example, the price for a 1997 Domaine Leroy Romanée Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has increased by nearly 10 times over the past five years. More recent vintages are also flying high with the 2014 Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, Romanée Saint-Vivant appreciating by 472% over five years^[1].

This level of insatiable demand is fully justified, in our view. RSV wines exhibit all the technical finesse and terroir characteristics as the other Vosne-Romanée Grand Crus but are viewed as more delicate with a distinctive silky elegance. Therefore, they can impress in youth but are also suitable for decades of ageing. RSV boasts a very similar soil structure to Romanée-Conti with a brown limestone top layer sitting above clay. The deep limestone layer in RSV contributes a more pronounced minerality to many of its wines.

The monks of the Saint-Vivant de Vergy abbey were the first to recognise the land’s potential for great wine and planted vines shortly after obtaining the land way back on 13 November 1131 from the Duke of Burgundy. Sections were added to the small original six-hectare plot, which was first referred to as Romanée Saint Vivant in 1765.

A Nicolas-Joseph Marey bought the vineyard in the wake of the French Revolution, and it remained a family monopole for a century until plots were sold off to different owners over the course of the 20^th century. Today, RSV is divided up among a handful of owners including Burgundy royalty Domaine Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Hudelot Noellat.

Other producers sometimes source RSV’s precious grapes to make rare wines that typically become instant collector’s items. Romanée Saint-Vivant embodies everything that’s magical about Burgundy – nuance, rarity, and individuality – and deserves its place in every Burgundy aficionado’s collection.

^[1] Source: Pricing data based on Wine Searcher average prices May 2017 – May 2022.