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Wine (alt.food.wine) Devoted to the discussion of wine and wine-related topics. A place to read and comment about wines, wine and food matching, storage systems, wine paraphernalia, etc. In general, any topic related to wine is valid fodder for the group. |
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TN Romanee-Conti 1970
The wine was Romanee-Conti 1970, bottle 006221 of 9026 bottles, US
agent: Frederich Wildman & Sons,NYC, 13.5% alcohol by volume. This wine was properly stored since release. The fill was high, and the cork was quite sound. I had this wine when it was perhaps 10 years old. It was quite drinkable then, but showed no better than the DRC 1970 La Tache and Richebourg. Romanee-Conti takes a very long time to peak. I would say it should not be drunk until at least 20 years old if from a decent year such as 1970 and even considerably older if from an outstanding year such as 1978 or 1985. With enough time the secondary complexity that says Romanee-Conti rather than La Tache develops. La Tache can be fuller and more fruity. However, given proper storage and enough age, Romanee-Conti often tops the other top DRC wines because it has perfect balance and great complexity as well as an oriental spice character that some mention. This wine is at a peak now, but could hold well quite a while longer. The main description is perfect balance. Acid is ample, there is still a littly tannin in the background, the fruit is a complex mixture of cherry, black cherry, and hints of many other fruits that defy description. Then there is the "oriental spice" that has now developed. It reminds one of a very complex mixture of spices, but if forced to name one I would say star anise - I might say something else tomorrow, as it keeps you guessing. I have not tasted the 1985 yet. It likely needs at least 30 years of age, perhaps more, to show everything of which it is capable. I would expect it to be much as I described the 1970, except it likely would be considerably more intense and even more complex, if that is possible. When I bought this wine in the 1970s, it was expensive at about US$50, but not extremely much more so than DRC's La Tache. The main problem back then was just finding it. Today the price of Romanee-Conti of nearly any year is much higher than La Tache, and usually costs in the thousands of dollars per bottle. Demand by the ultra rich in the Orient may have something to do with this. Many of these people are now interested in fine wine, and are willing to pay exceedingly high prices for what is considered the best, most rare, etc. A few decades ago, their parents and grandparents often were more interest in very old and rare Cognac than in fine wine. |
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