ROMANEE CONTI Romanée Saint Vivant Grand cru 2018

Domaine de la Romanée Conti

History of the estate

<b>La Romanée-Conti, at the pinnacle</b>

Without a doubt, the most sought-after bottles in the world are those bearing the name of this prestigious vineyard. Several monopolies, 8 grand crus, and 1500 years of history offer a select few the quintessence of Pinot Noir. Because La Romanée-Conti is much more than a myth. For all the wines, critics praise the continuity of these unique wines each year. This speaks volumes about the ovation they receive.

However, the product remains a luxury. La Romanée-Conti Grand Cru only produces 5000 bottles per year. This heavenly nectar is often compared to a divine drink. Purity, respect for the vintage, the Pinot Noir here wears an exceptional cloak. It is rightly said of La Romanée-Conti that it is a wine fit for a Prince. Moreover, this majestic wine has the potential to improve over decades. Its reputation is that it elevates the taste pleasure to the heavens.
In conclusion, it would be the very perfection, a unique marriage between the terroir, the Pinot Noir, and the climates. In Burgundy, a climate is a piece of land, a name, which produces a wine recognized by enthusiasts. Nowhere else has the alliance of place and wine been taken as far as here.

<b>The ancient history</b>

The history of the estate takes root in 900, when Mannassés, Lord of Vergy founded the Priory of Saint-Vivant. During the 13th century, the Priory acquired vines in the future vineyard of La Romanée-Conti. And the priory was then attached to the Abbey of Cluny. It was therefore in 1512 that the first description of the Cros de Cloux (original name of the Romanée-Conti cru) appeared.
Then Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti (1717-1776), acquired La Romanée in 1760. At that time, the estate did not yet bear the name of Conti. The Prince de Conti belonged to the royal Bourbon family, that of Louis XIV. And the Prince de Conti acquired this vineyard at ten times the price of the Clos de Bèze. This speaks volumes about the value of the plot. Because La Romanée was already highly regarded.
Three years later, the Prince de Conti bought two adjoining plots of vines. He built a winemaking and aging cellar as well as accommodation for the staff. After his death, his son, also Prince de Conti, succeeded him. During the French Revolution, La Romanée-Conti and La Romanée Saint-Vivant were confiscated by the State. Finally, in 1773, the Prince de Conti was imprisoned at Fort Saint-Nicolas in Marseille.
The following year, the name of La Romanée-Conti appeared for the first time. Then two appraisals of the estate were carried out. At the end of 1794, La Romanée-Conti was sold to the economist and hydrographer Nicolas Defer de la Nouerre (1740-1794). Then in 1819, Julien-Jules Ouvrard bought the property. In 1830, the wine of La Romanée-Conti was made at the illustrious Clos de Vougeot. After the death of Julien-Jules Ouvrard in 1869, then deputy of Côte d'Or, his nephews inherited it. But they sold it to Paul Guillemont from whom Jacques-Marie Duvault-Blochet bought it. Jacques-Marie Duvault-Blochet was already the owner at Gaudichots, Richebourg, Grands-Échézeaux, and Échézeaux. And this owner did an excellent job of observing the terroirs of La Romanée-Conti.

<b>The modern history</b>

As early as 1912, Edmond Gaudin de Villaine bought the shares of La Romanée-Conti with Jacques Chambon. Twenty-one years later, the estate got its hands on La Tâche. During the 2nd World War, the civil society of La Romanée-Conti was created.
In 1963, white grape vines were acquired in Montrachet. They gave birth to the Montrachet Grand Cru de La Romanée-Conti, a white so rare that the whole world is scrambling for it. In 1966, La Romanée Saint-Vivant was leased to the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti by its owner, Miss Marey Monge, the last of her name. This plot was then purchased in 1988.
Henri de Villaine, a major player in the history of the estate from 1950 to 1974, died in 1998. His nephew took over. Since 2008, the vines of the Domaine de Mérode, namely Corton Clos-du-roi, Bressandes, and Renardes have been leased to La Romanée-Conti. And this completes the prestigious collection of grand crus of the estate.