1970 Romanee Conti

The 1970 Romanée-Conti, from magnum, is an unexpected last-minute addition. Tastings at the domaine start with the reds and then end with the Montrachet, so I suppose it is fitting that a tasting focused on Montrachet ends with a red. Fully mature and rough around the edges, the 1970 Romanée-Conti is a bit frayed, but this magnum is in excellent shape. The 1970 is a decidedly burly, somber Romanée-Conti. In most vintages, Romanée-Conti is an intellectual, almost elusive Burgundy. There is little of that here, as the 1970 says everything it has to say pretty much from the outset, but it is refreshing - if that is the right word - to finish a tasting of Montrachet with a good bottle of Romanée-Conti. Perfectly stored bottles and magnums might still hold for a few years, but it does not look like there is anything meaningful to be gained by waiting.