Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru 1999

$4,750.00

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The 1999 Échézeaux stands out for its striking inner perfume and sweetness. Dark cherries, plums, mocha, violets and menthol all flesh out in a rich, inviting Burgundy that is just now beginning to approach an early plateau of maturity that will last another 20+ years. With time in the glass, the 1999 turns deep and rich. In this case, the vintage is a very strong marker, perhaps even more so than site. Far from an easygoing wine, the 1999 Échézeaux is a wine of notable intensity and pure power. (Drink between 2013-2039). 94 Points



John Gilman, View from the Cellar

The 1999 DRC Echézeaux is a very young and unevolved example of the vintage, but this will be a lovely example of this bottling in the fullness of time. The deep and primary nose wafts from the glass in a mix of black cherries, raspberries, venison, coffee, chocolate, herb tones and toasty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and still quite primary in personality, with a plump core of fruit, lovely soil signature waiting in the wines to unfold, ripe, beautifully integrated tannins and a long, tangy finish that closes with excellent length and grip. This is a puppy, but will be an excellent vintage of DRC Echézeaux in the fullness of time. (Drink between 2025-2075). 93+ Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2005

$5,950.00

Neal Martin, Vinous

I was blown away by the 2005 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru because though I have tasted it two or three times, never could I envisage that it would reach this level. It has laser-like precision on the nose with more blue fruit than I remember, so much mineralité, as if someone had just ground limestone directly into the wine glass. The palate is exquisitely balanced with filigree tannins framing the pure red fruit, a Pinot Noir with unerring symmetry. It gains weight and depth with aeration, ultimately transforming into a profound wine and one of the best bottles of Grands-Echézeaux that I have tasted from the domaine. Tasted at Noizé restaurant in London. (Drink between 2021-2050). 97 Points



Burghound

This was last year and still is considerably more reserved and less expressive though the discreet aromas are decidedly more elegant with much more floral influence on the violet and rose petal infused aromas that are nuanced by soy, hoisin and clove notes that can also be found on the muscular, robust and powerful big-bodied flavors that exude dry extract on the detailed and hugely persistent finish. This is both stylish and classy with tautly wound flavors that have that great sense of underlying tension and cuts-like-a-knife precision. Note however that this is, at a comparable stage, so much more primary and backwards than normal that this will need a very long time in the cellar to arrive at its majority, indeed I am not at all sure that the 20 years that I am suggesting will be sufficient. (Drink starting 2025). 96 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2004

$4,950.00

John Gilman, View from the Cellar

The 2004 DRC Grands Echézeaux looks destined to be a legendary vintage for this bottling. There is an elegance, transparency and purity to the wine in 2004 that is utterly remarkable. The glorious bouquet offers up notes of raspberries, cherries, Vosne spice, intense rose petal, striking minerality and vanillin oak. On the palate this beautiful wine is fullish, racy and crystal clear, with beautiful soil tones, laser-like focus, tangy acids, and great length and grip on the ripely tannic finish. The 2004 Grands Echézeaux is not a blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination, but is a wonderfully discreet, transparent and intensely-flavored wine of remarkable finesse. (Drink between 2014-2050). 94 Points



Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator

The fruit is a touch darker than the Echézeaux, offering cherry, licorice and sandalwood aromas. This is also less forthcoming and tight, with a refined structure and plenty of finesse, suggesting greater potential for aging. 93 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2003

$4,950.00

Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report

The nose is deeper and darker of aspect; dusky, fecund - quite exciting. Slowly the nose 'brightens' to bring higher-toned spicy elements to the fore, aniseed and red-wrapped fruit. The palate is less obviously sweet, some separation in the mouth between the impression from the fruit vs the tannin and extract that comes through on the mid-palate. The length is haunting, slowly drying out onto your teeth. This is an enigmatic wine today, almost two personalities in one glass - if they marry this will be a superb wine - it is anyway a larger step-up from the Echézeaux than in recent years.

Burghound

A stunningly pure and distinctly floral black pinot fruit nose that displays spice, plum and hints of smoke and animale that introduces round yet structured, muscular yet accessible flavors of phenomenal richness and power. This is a big wine that combines power and finesse though it is a good deal less elegant than it usually is but it is forceful, powerful and exceptionally long. (Drink starting 2015). 92 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 1999

$5,950.00

Clive Coates

Medium-full colour. Now just about mature. Fullish, slightly four square nose. This softened up quickly. Fragrant, relaxed, poised and elegant. On the palate fullish body. Very Lovely fruit. The tannins now resolved. lots of intensity and energy. Long and complex. Very fine plus. (Drink between 2003-2025). 96 Points



Antonio Galloni, Vinous

A dark, brooding wine, the 1999 Grands-Échézeaux is simply sensational. Firm tannins provide the backbone in an intensely perfumed, savory Burgundy loaded with class and nuance. Smoke, tar, leather and herbs open up in a mysterious, intensely perfumed Burgundy that has so much still to say. The broad, textured finish makes it impossible to resist a second taste, and then a third. I expect the 1999 will drink well for another 20 years, perhaps longer. This is a fabulous showing for the Grands-Échézeaux. (Drink between 2014-2034). 95 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2010

$6,950.00

Label a little scuffed.

Burghound

The restrained and markedly cool nose displays an impressive variety of floral and spice hints that add a sense of elegance to the stunningly complex ripe dark berry fruit and plum aromas. While this is almost always a muscular and at times even robust wine young, in 2010 it offers a truly remarkably sophisticated mouth feel because like the RSV, the tannins are refined and fine-grained. Moreover, there is the same knockout complexity that the nose displays on the intensely mineral-driven finish and overall, this is a complete wine of simply fantastic length. It also offers a completely different, and much more masculine, experience than the RSV. I can't wait to try both in 15 to 20 years. Note that this is evolving glacially and I have extended my suggested drinking window by several years. (Drink starting 2032). 96 Points



Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The 2010 Richebourg is a kaleidoscope of black fruit, graphite, mint, violets and spices. It is a towering, statuesque wine that completely saturates the palate in all directions, seemingly at the same time. The 2010 stands out for its beguiling, totally exquisite aromatics. The trademark Richebourg structure is present, but this seems to be a vintage where finesse takes precedence over sheer power. (Drink between 2030-2060). 94-96 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru 2016

$10,000.00

Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2016 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 24–25 at 31hL/ha (the highest of the five crus). It has an utterly sublime bouquet of blackberry, briar, crushed limestone, a dash of cracked black pepper and a little oregano. This is extremely complex and displays exquisite focus, to the extent that you could just sit and nose it all day. The palate is beautifully balanced, the spicy red fruit framed by filigreed tannin that belies its backbone. There is a gentle crescendo from start to finish, though being La Tâche it retains complete control. The precision and detail in the final third are deeply impressive. Less fruit-forward than the 2015, and lightly spiced, with an insistent grip. There is a captivating sense of completeness that will ensure longevity through three or four decades. 1,814 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in-bottle tasting in London. (Drink between 2025-2060). 98 Points

Burghound

As is often the case, the highly perfumed nose is the most floral-inflected of the range with its equally cool and restrained array of violet and rose petal scents that combine with an extraordinary group of spice elements on the essence of red currant aromas. The mouthfeel of the imposingly-scaled and powerful flavors is again robust yet refined with just as much minerality as the Richebourg adding even more lift to the almost painfully intense and extravagantly long finish that also just goes and goes. There is a hint of backend warmth but it's not enough to materially detract from the overall sense of harmony though I underscore that the '16 LT is one very firm effort that will require decades to full shed its tannic shell. With that said, this is genuinely brilliant. (Drink starting 2041). 98 Points



William Kelley, Wine Advocate

More reserved than the Richebourg and Romanée-St-Vivant, the 2016 La Tâche Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of wild berries, licorice, rose petal, smoked duck and love, framed by a touch of cedary new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a deep, concentrated but tight-knit core, its firm chassis of fine-grained, structuring tannins cloaked in succulent fruit, underpinned by juicy acids. The finish is long and reverberative. This is a stunning La Tâche in the making, but it is also one of the more reticent wines in the range and will demand some bottle age. Drink 2026-2065. 98 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2020

$29,950.00

Charles Curtis, Decanter

Young Romanée-Conti is sometimes enigmatic, with its greatness obscured. If this bottle was any indication, however, the potential of the 2020 vintage is already on display. This wine is immensely aromatic, with remarkable depth on display in the ripe blackberry fruit with notes of earth, spice, and a complex savoury, almost gamey note that echoes on the impressively lingering finish. The texture is suitably firm and substantial, but there is astonishing elegance and freshness for such a torrid vintage, especially since this site was picked before the rains on 27 August. This is everything you want Romanée-Conti to be. 6,003 bottles were produced. (Drink between 2028-2085). 100 Points

William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is a wine of real grace and purity. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of raspberries and blackberries mingled with sweet spices, violets, peonies and a subtle hint of wintergreen, it's full-bodied, ample and satiny, with terrific concentration and a suave, seamless, layered profile, gliding over the palate. It's as intensely flavorful as the more muscular, broader-shouldered La Tâche, but it's more elegant and sensual. It's also the wine in the cellar that's the least marked by the style of the vintage. Drink 2033-2065. 100 Points

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The 2020 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru was picked on 26 and 28 August at 28.7hL/ha. As usual, I leave it for 5-10 minutes to open in the glass, predisposed not to show everything upon first pour. It reveals lovely dark berry fruit, sous-bois, clove and haunting sea spray notes (picture yourself walking along the pebble beach at Whistable and the tang of shucked oyster shell in the salty air). The palate is medium-bodied with very fine and pliant tannins. Harmonious to a tee with a perfect silver bead of acidity, long and languorous, this fans out with ineffable ease on the finish. Stunning. 500 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London. (Drink between 2027-2070). 99 Points



Burghound

The ripe yet still cool nose is exuberantly floral and gloriously spicy on the aromas of essence of poached plum, cassis and exotic tea. The caressing and succulent mid-palate somehow manages to be at once highly seductive yet almost painfully intense and imposingly scaled while exuding of the big-bodied and incredibly dense flavors that flash evident minerality on the massively long and impeccably well-balanced finale where the only nit is again suggestion of warmth. As one might reasonably expect, this is presently firmly austere, and firmly tannic, which confirms that it is indisputably destined for a very long life as it should see its 50th birthday in excellent shape. Brilliant! I would point out that based on the way this showed in the context of the decade, the 2020 is likely the best RC since the fantastic 2010. (Drink starting 2045). 99 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2019

$32,950.00

Charles Curtis, Decanter

Picked at the same time as La Tâche on 17 September, Romanée-Conti is following a different arc of evolution. Tasted out of barrel, the wine was perfection itself. I remember being struck by the explosive nature of the aromas and their range from high-toned red fruit to darker black fruit and the shading delivered by notes of while herb, mineral, and earth. None of that has disappeared, but the ensemble is less expressively aromatic than it was from barrel. The wine seems to be going quiet, although on the palate the enormous extract, density and well-managed tannins are all still in evidence. It is certain it will be worth the wait. (Drink between 2025-2065). 100 Points

William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2019 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is a wine that brought tears to my eyes. Unfurling in the glass with scents of rose petals, black tea, wild berries, exotic spices, violets, bergamot and licorice, it's full-bodied, sensual and enveloping, with a broad attack that segues into a weightless but pungently intense mid-palate defined by striking energy and precision. Seamless and elegant, with melting tannins and mouthwatering acids, it concludes with an expansive, intensely floral finish. It's a monument in the making. Drink 2033-2070. 100 Points

Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2019 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru was picked on 17 of September at 22.5hL/ha. I left my glass for five minutes before the first sip since it does not like to give everything away at first pouring. Firstly, it is a little deeper in colour than other recent vintages. Waiting for the wine to open pays dividends, revealing exquisitely-defined brambly red fruit, incense and red roses. There is a very slight gamey element, not strong, but just lingers off-stage. The palate is medium-bodied with lace-like tannins that frame the otherworldly, pure, red fruit. It is perfectly balanced and bewitchingly pure, a crescendo of flavour that this year, at least at this early juncture, put the La Tâche in its place. So elegant on the finish and remarkably persistent, this is just perfection in a glass. 409 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London. (Drink between 2026-2060). 100 Points

Burghound

This too is restrained to the point of being almost completely inexpressive and even extensive swirling barely reveals the most floral nose of all, along with discreetly perfumed, exotic and elegant aromas of Asian-style tea, sandalwood and ripe yet cool red and dark currant. The equally cool, pure and highly energetic large-scale flavors also possess a simply gorgeous mid-palate texture that contrasts somewhat with the compact, backward and taciturn finish that possess stunningly good complexity and incredible persistence. Other than the barest suggestion of warmth, the balance is perfect and like all of the greatest vintages of this storied and multi-faceted wine, the word that comes to mind is Zen as the sense of harmony is unmatched. As was the case from barrel last year, I could again taste this wine three days later and while I don't pretend to know if the 2019 RC will ultimately match the finest vintages over the past 100 years, based on the underlying material, it certainly has a very good chance of doing so. In sum, Burgundy doesn't get much, indeed if any, better than this. (Drink starting 2044). 99+ Points

Rare DRC Whites

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2019

$12,500.00

First vintage!



Jasper Morris MW

There are four plots one lower down, one above and two in the middle, all vinified and matured separately. During elevage the middle plots seemed to be the best, the lower section good, while the wine from the top block appeared to be too acid. But it is now clear to Aubert that the blend needed them all, including the top, which was raised in one year old wood, the rest in new barrels. The wine took its time, both for the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, so the Corton-Charlemagne was bottled later than the Montrachet. A first bottle was extrovert but soon evidence of a slight cork taint appeared. The second bottle was clean, if not quite so immediately exuberant. This is chiselled and fine with wonderful length. The stones are more apparent and they are washed with a fresh citrus. Clean pure and classy with real grip, there is power behind and the fruit totally fills out the back of the palate. A brilliant first offering of Corton-Charlemagne. 97 Points

Andy Howard MW, Decanter

2019 was DRC’s first vintage of Corton-Charlemagne and this is a hugely impressive start. The grapes were harvested after all of the Pinot Noir, contributing to a fleshy, weighty and dramatic expression of the grand cru. Aubert de Villaine explained that they used all three vineyard components in the blend with the grapes from the highest elevation adding all important freshness. As with all DRC wines, there is an impeccable balance here, in this case between fruit ripeness, notable acidity and the lingering, mineral, stony aftertaste of the finest Corton-Charlemagne. (Drink between 2024-2037). 96 Points

Jancis Robinson MW

AB-S again: ‘A moment in history. This is the first vintage of the Domaine’s Corton-Charlemagne, a tiny 2.9 hectare holding leased in 2018 from Domaine Bonneau du Martray and which lies in the two greatest locations, Le Charlemagne (Aloxe-Corton) and En Charlemagne (Pernand-Vergelesses). And what a wine it is. Golden yellow in colour. The nose is quite beautiful with creamily rich but zesty fruit, with an ethereal, haunting mineral stony perfume. The palate is silken on entry, yet lush but the sensuality is refined with a delectable lean grip and fan of freshness and light to the finish. How wonderful to begin this chapter with such a vintage and with such a wine. Ridiculously exciting to see this appellation wearing the Domaine’s label for the first time.’ First vintage. Picked a week later than the neighbours, between 22 and 25 September – quite some nerve! No information about vine age given but the yield was apparently 26 hl/ha (2 hl/ha more than the Domaine’s Montrachet) and 506 cases were produced – considerably more than the 184 cases of Le Montrachet 2019 whose >60-year-old vines were picked on 15 September.

Rich nose with some real sweetness on the palate and lovely creamy texture with great finesse and freshness on the finish after grand cru weight of fruit. Lovely chiselled richness. Great purity and definitely worthy of grand cru status – unlike so many wines from this appellation. (Drink between 2025-2038). 18+/20

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020

$10,950.00

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

he 2020 Corton-Charlemagne once again gives the Montrachet a run for its money. Aromatically penetrating and vibrant, the 2020 offers up a compelling mix of lemon peel, white flower, almond, white pepper and a host of bright, saline notes. The 2020 oozes class and precision from the very first taste. It's another wine I went back to many times over the course of this tasting. The 2020 is very clearly Corton-Charlemagne, but also very clearly a DRC white. In this vintage, the domaine used all four of its plots (spread across various locations on the Corton hill in the Le Charlemagne and En Charlemagne lieux-dits) and relied on slightly larger 300L barrels. In a word: magnificent! (Drink between 2025-2035). 97 Points

William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has turned out beautifully, offering up aromas of crisp pear and green apple mingled with notions of hazelnuts, lime zest, white flowers, nutmeg and freshly baked bread. Full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, it's ample but incisive, with a vibrant spine of acidity and chalky structuring extract. Combining the depth and intensity of flavor of 2019 with supplemental cut and tension, it's a step up in quality from that excellent debut vintage. Drink 2026-2050. 97 Points

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 2020

$16,995.00 

William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Montrachet Grand Cru is brilliant, uniting all the breadth and plenitude of which this vineyard is capable with all the work that's been quietly going on at the domaine to bring greater precision and integration to the white wines. Exhibiting extravagant aromas of honeyed orchard fruits, confit peach and green mango mingled with hints of nutmeg, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's full-bodied, satiny and broad shouldered, remaining vibrant and dynamic despite all its heft and weight, and revealing its chassis of chalky structuring extract as it opens in the glass. It concludes with a long, resonant finish. Drink 2027-2055. 100 Points

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

The Montrachet was picked on 5 September, and Bertrand noted that they were the last grower to pick here and were all alone in the vineyard. The Domaine has long pursued its singular vision of Chardonnay; co-director Perrine Fenal noting that ‘ripe Chardonnay was very Aubert'. Despite the rich, lush character of this wine there was no trace of heaviness. The wine was dense with buttery, spicy tropical fruit, but the genius of Montrachet is to be the richest white wine in the world, and this vintage was a dizzying success that should last for fifty years. 3,539 bottles produced. (Drink between 2028-2075). 98 Points



Burghound

A more subtle though still easily perceptible application of oak still easily allows the markedly spicier and prominent petrol scents to be appreciated. The exceptionally rich, concentrated and impressively constituted broad-shouldered yet refined flavors display outstanding power and drive on the focused, firm and hugely long finish. This is an opulent Montrachet but one that is clearly built to repay extended keeping. One of the great wines of the 2020 vintage that should age and improve over the next 30 to 40 years. In short, this is positively brilliant. (Drink starting 2035). 98 Points

To order email darren@grandmillesime.com.au. Wines are available now.

Second table added. More seats available

Following the success of our recent Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Dinner popular demand has dictated that we take a look at the other wines from the domaine, especially their Pommard.

We have assembled a lineup of 12 wines for this dinner. The charming Alix Buffet (Buffet ninth generation) will again host the dinner and provide an insight that only someone extremely familiar with the wines and vineyards can do.

In addition to their Volnay holdings Domaine Buffet have 1er Cru reds in Savigny-Les-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses and Pommard. We will start with the Savigny-Les-Beaune and Pernard-Vergelesses 2022. After that a pair of highly rated Pommard Villages (the 2022 scored 94 Points) and then dive into the three Pommard 1er Crus from a variety of vintages. Included are two vintages of Rugiens, a wine that is discussed as a candidate for elevation to Grand Cru status.

Once again you will have the opportunity to taste and discuss the wines with Alix at a special 4 course dinner at Castlerose who did such a sterling job at our last dinner.

The menu and wine list

Roast Duck Salad, radicchio, pomegranate

Domaine Francois Buffet Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 2021

Risotto, mushroom ragu, parmesan

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot 2021

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot 2017

Roast Chicken, jus

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Les Poutures 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Les Poutures 2017

Classic Beef Bourguignon, mashed potato, greens

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2020

Venue: Castlerose, 67-69 Palmerston Crescent, Sth Melbourne 3205

Time and date: 7.15pm Tuesday 25 March 2025

Cost: $275.00 per Person all inclusive

To book email tracey@grandmillesime.com.au or phone (03) 9326 5737.