Beschreibung:

NOTES ON THE 2003 VINTAGE FROM AUBERT DE VILLAINE Taken from Burghound.com Co-director Aubert de Villaine described 2003 as a vintage that "gave us really superb raw materials but at the cost of fully 45 to 50 of our normal production. The average yield across all of our reds was only 16.6 hl/ha. After a tumultuous growing season that saw everything from killing frosts to killing heat, we began the harvest on August 25th and harvested until September 1st. What I thought was interesting about the growing season though was just how varied it was. For example, by the middle of May the vines were already in a very advanced vegetative state and the flowering was finished at the beginning of June. However from one day to the next, there could be as much as 12 to 15 degrees C difference. The other key aspect of the growing season was how fast the vineyard progressed from one stage to the next. As you know, in Burgundy we have the old rule of thumb of 100 days from the flowering to the harvest but in 2003, we barely had 80 days between flowering and ripe fruit ready to pick. It was truly amazing. The heat of course gave us very tiny berries, which of course delivered very high dry extract levels. In terms of the harvest, there was no rot at all but it was necessary to eliminate withered and sunburned grapes. Sugars were excellent and there was no chaptalization. The pHs were high, coming in between 3.6 and 3.7 but we did not acidulate as we felt that the combination of high tannin and sugar contents coupled with low acidities actually gave us exceptionally well-balanced wines. I was a bit concerned at first because when we initially racked off the wines into barrel, the colors were black and the aromas surmature. But bit by bit, the freshness has returned and with the exception of the Echézeaux, none of the wines seem exceptionally ripe. The terroirs have begun to assert themselves and I am extremely optimistic that 2003 has given us genuinely great wines. While it is of course much too early to say, it's entirely possible that the '03s will rival our '47s one day." Romanée-Conti--Vintage 2003
1 magnum per lot
THE DOMAINE I remember my first visit to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti like it was yesterday. I had been driving a beat up Peugeot rental up and down the Côte d'Or drinking, eating and carrying on. Wineries came and wineries went, some barrel samples living up to my expectations, others disappointing. No matter though, they were all precursors to my final visit of the trip, that Mecca of wine pilgrims everywhere: The Domaine. When it came time to visit the Domaine, I parked the Peugeot down the street, so that Aubert wouldn't see it. I walked up to the gate and rang the bell. It was all very unassuming: I was buzzed into an unimpressive ante chamber, and then led into the cellars by Monsieur de Villaine. But, as the say in England (so I'm told) the proof is in the pudding. Even pre-malo, the wines exude personality, power and elegance. After the barrel tasting M. de Villaine opened up two older bottles: a 1987 Montrachet and a 1980 Romanée-Conti. As Burgundy drinkers know, '87 and '80 were no great shakes in the region, but that is why they were so interesting to taste. Even DRC from mediocre vintages has personality; in fact, it is often in these vintages that the terroir expresses itself fully, unencumbered by the trappings of the vintage. This consignment has enough DRC for any connoisseur. From the young to the old, from bottles to methuselah. Bid with confidence, drink well, and next time you're in Burgundy, be sure to stop by the Domaine to make your own memories. NOTES ON THE 2003 VINTAGE FROM AUBERT DE VILLAINE Taken from Burghound.com Co-director Aubert de Villaine described 2003 as a vintage that "gave us really superb raw materials but at the cost of fully 45 to 50 of our normal production. The average yield across all of our reds was only 16.6 hl/ha. After a tumultuous growing season that saw everything from killing frosts to killing heat, we began the harvest on August 25th and harvested until September 1st. What I thought was interesting about the growing season though was just how varied it was. For example, by the middle of May the vines were already in a very advanced vegetative state and the flowering was finished at the beginning of June. However from one day to the next, there could be as much as 12 to 15 degrees C difference. The other key aspect of the growing season was how fast the vineyard progressed from one stage to the next. As you know, in Burgundy we have the old rule of thumb of 100 days from the flowering to the harvest but in 2003, we barely had 80 days between flowering and ripe fruit ready to pick. It was truly amazing. The heat of course gave us very tiny berries, which of course delivered very high dry extract levels. In terms of the harvest, there was no rot at all but it was necessary to eliminate withered and sunburned grapes. Sugars were excellent and there was no chaptalization. The pHs were high, coming in between 3.6 and 3.7 but we did not acidulate as we felt that the combination of high tannin and sugar contents coupled with low acidities actually gave us exceptionally well-balanced wines. I was a bit concerned at first because when we initially racked off the wines into barrel, the colors were black and the aromas surmature. But bit by bit, the freshness has returned and with the exception of the Echézeaux, none of the wines seem exceptionally ripe. The terroirs have begun to assert themselves and I am extremely optimistic that 2003 has given us genuinely great wines. While it is of course much too early to say, it's entirely possible that the '03s will rival our '47s one day." Romanée-Conti--Vintage 2003 Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Lot 255 with very lightly scuffed label Parcel: lots 254-255 "Young Romane-Conti is rarely expressive yet this is as aromatically expressive as the Echézeaux with a gentle touch of wood framing stunningly spicy dark cherry and plum aromas that pull you into the wine with its grace and purity followed by sweet, understated and vibran