1971 Richebourg

Two years ago, in this room, I tasted the 1971 La Tâche from jeroboam, a wine that remains indelibly etched in my mind as one of the greatest Burgundies I have ever had the privilege of drinking. The 1971 Richebourg evokes vivid memories of that wine. Although it is not as profound, the Richebourg offers notable sensuality and captivating allure from the very first taste. Blood orange, cranberry, mint, rose petal and anise add shades of nuance to this ethereal, utterly sublime Burgundy.

The 1971 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was poured from magnum. It had a powerful, almost burly bouquet as you would expect from this vineyard—perhaps autumnal, brown leaves and a cold Sunday afternoon, touches of Earl Grey infused the dark berry fruit (darker than the 1971 Grands Echézeaux tasted alongside incidentally). The palate is medium-bodied with a fine line of acidity, hints of dried orange peel infusing the black and red fruit, all with impressive energy considering that this is now the same age as yours truly. Perhaps I found more breeding on the aforementioned Grands Echézeaux, and yet this is still a gorgeous mature Burgundy that will continue to give immense pleasure over the next decade for those privileged with the experience. Tasted November 2016.