Domaine de la Romanée Conti Échézeaux Grand Cru

2006

Burghound 92: Just as it was from the very beginning the expressive nose of maturing red and black fruit is markedly floral in character with a plethora of spice and earth nuances. There is good richness to the round and delicious middle weight flavors that possess an attractively textured and punchy finish that delivers good if not truly special depth and length. I very much like the overall sense of balance and about the only nit is a trace of backend warmth. This is approaching its initial drinking window though for my taste the '06 Ech should benefit from another 3 to 5 years or so of cellaring.

Wine Advocate 94: Drunk in Burgundy from a French source, this bottle of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's 2006 Échézeaux Grand Cru was showing extremely well, opening in the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, spices and rose petals, framed by a deft patina of high-quality new oak. Full-bodied, voluptuous and layered, it's rich and muscular, with lively acids and plenty of powdery tannin. To my taste, this is still a decade away from maturity, though it is immensely pleasurable to drink now.

2014

Burghound 94: A wonderfully complex nose features a broad array of spice elements with those of plum, violet, sandalwood and Asian-style tea that are also trimmed in soft wood nuances. There is good punch to the refined, cool and pure medium-bodied flavors that possess better concentration on the balanced, persistent and youthfully austere finale where the only nit is a very subtle hint of warmth. Of all of the wines in the Domaine's portfolio, in my view the Ech is the most improved over the last 10 years and it shows as the 2014 is bigger and more powerful than usual.

Wine Advocate 92: The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked on 24, 25 and 26 September at 27.8 hectoliters per hectare. It offers an expressive bouquet, more vivacious than the 2012 Echézeaux, with scents of black plum, raspberry preserve and subtle limestone aromas. It unfolds with confidence in the glass. The palate is surprisingly structured on the entry, perhaps with ambitions towards its elder brother, the Grands Echézeaux. There is a gentle, slightly leafy quality to this Grand Cru, perhaps more masculine and reserved than other vintages tasted just after bottling. The aftertaste feels long with a cheeky pinch of black pepper.

2015

Burghound 94: A wonderfully spicy, fresh and equally ripe nose blends together more deeply pitched notes of plum, violet, plum, sandalwood and hoisin wisps. There is impressive richness to the seductively textured yet quite powerful full-bodied flavors that possess excellent density thanks to the abundant dry extract that does a fine job of buffering the firm but not rigid tannins on the mouth coating and strikingly long finish. This is built-to-age and like the Corton, this has made huge quality strides over the past ten vintages.

Wine Advocate 93: After the more restrained Corton, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's 2015 Échézeaux Grand Cru bursts from the glass with a flamboyant bouquet of mulberry, black cherry, wood smoke and a lavish framing of new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and intense, with a classically firm chassis of tannin and a lovely core of sappy, succulent fruit. This was the last of DRC's vineyards to be harvested, but despite its overtly ripe aromas and flavors, it retains superb acidity and focus and should amply reward cellaring. Cropped at 26 hectoliters per hectare and harvested September 12 and 14.

Vinous 94: Dark red with ruby tones; the darkest of these 2015s today. Captivating high-pitched, slightly high-toned scents of raspberry, minerals, spices and violet. Intensely flavored, youthfully tight and gripping, conveying terrific energy and subtle sweetness. The flavors of black plum and berries are darker than those of the Corton. As sharply delineated as this classy Echézeaux is, it also possesses plenty of baby fat. Finishes with substantial fine-grained tannins and outstanding length. A superb vintage for this cuvée.