2012 Grand Echezeaux
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2012 Grand Echezeaux from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France
The 2012 vintages emerging from the hallowed cellars of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti are stirring quite the discourse amongst keen collectors and sommeliers alike. Among them, the 2012 Grand Echezeaux encapsulates the year's climatic trials with a poise that only the hand of an adept vigneron could muster.
A Vintage Carved by Challenging Climes
It is no secret that the 2012 growing season in Burgundy was a vigneron's gauntlet—fraught with climactic caprice from hailstorms to drought. Yet, it is precisely this adversity that has chiselled the character of the 2012 Grand Echezeaux, endowing it with a unique testament to resilience and artisanship.
The wine's deep ruby hue is but a prelude to an olfactory ballet where dark cherries mingle with whispers of violet and a hint of earthy terroir-driven truffle. On the palate, it is impeccably structured; the formidable tannins are softened by time yet foreshadow years of potential maturation.
Investment Prowess Coupled With Sensory Reward
The rarity of the 2012 vintage due to reduced yields bestows upon it an inherent collectibility. For investors in the finesse of fine wines, this is a crucial note, as scarcity and pedigree converge to elevate prospects on both physical and monetary scales.
The 2012 Grand Echezeaux exemplifies the fortitude of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti's committed cultivation, transcending adverse conditions to deliver a wine of momentum and might. Its intricate layering of fruits and earth presents not just an enchanting drinking experience but also holds promise as a strong feather in an investor's cap.
Epitome of Elegance Amidst Vintner's Trials
The distinction lying within each sip of the 2012 Grand Echezeaux narrates the story of a vintage won through tireless effort. The wine's elegance amidst environmental duress serves as a beacon for burgundian resilience, offering both a sumptuous journey for the senses and a formidable addition to any investment portfolio. It stands as a bastion of what can be achieved through staunch dedication to viticultural excellence.
Market price (USD)
$36,610.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
1999.33
Scores and tasting notes
The 2012 Grands Echézeaux was picked on September 22, 24 and 25, at 27 hectoliters per hectare. Compared to the Echézeaux the nose is more demure, perhaps more refined, does not feel the urge to "put it all out" as it were. Reticent is the word - yet the precision and delineation is undeniable. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannin, here a mixture of red and black fruit, a little broodier and more introspective than its "cousin" but with greater persistence in the mouth. It unfurls on the finish: hints of dry tobacco and cedar, leaving you with the impression of a "masculine" Grands Echézeaux, one built for the long haul. 987 cases produced.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 27 February 2015