Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, known to collectors simply as DRC, is the most famous and most sought-after wine estate on earth. Based in the village of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, it makes tiny quantities of Grand Cru Pinot Noir that set the standard for purity, perfume and ageing potential. These are among the rarest and most expensive wines you can buy, and among the most rewarding to understand.
History and the vineyards of Vosne-Romanée
The domaine takes its name from Romanée-Conti, a 1.8 hectare walled plot it owns outright as a monopole, alongside its second monopole, La Tâche. Around them sit some of the greatest vineyards in Burgundy: Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands Échézeaux, Échézeaux and, more recently, Corton. Everything is farmed biodynamically, and the finest parcels are still ploughed by horse to protect the soil. The result is fruit of extraordinary concentration and clarity, made in such small volumes that a single vintage of Romanée-Conti runs to only a few thousand bottles.
The wines: Grand Cru Pinot Noir and a rare white
Almost everything here is Pinot Noir, and each vineyard speaks with its own voice. Romanée-Conti is the most complete, La Tâche the most exotic, Richebourg the most powerful and Romanée-Saint-Vivant the most delicate. Young, they can seem reserved, but a decade or two in the cellar unlocks red cherry, rose, spice and forest floor, the benchmark for what great red wine can become. The domaine also makes a minuscule amount of white from Le Montrachet, one of the world's finest Chardonnays. To see the wider region, browse the rest of our Burgundy selection.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti FAQ
Why is DRC so expensive?
Scarcity and quality. The estate owns a handful of the greatest Grand Cru vineyards in the world and makes only a few thousand bottles of each, farmed with obsessive care. Demand vastly outstrips supply, which is why prices climb into the tens of thousands, and the rarest old vintages have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
How should I serve and age DRC?
These are wines for the cellar. Most reward ten to twenty years, and the top bottlings far longer. Decant gently, serve a little cooler than room temperature, and pair with roast duck, game birds or truffle rather than anything heavily spiced.
Where should I start with red Burgundy?
If DRC is out of reach, the same Pinot Noir magic runs through the rest of the region at far gentler prices. Start with a village wine, learn the appellations, and work your way up.