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VOSNE
ROMANEE
Localization :
Côte de Nuits
Total vineyard area : 183,83 ha dont 57,50 ha classés en premier
cru et 27,80 ha classés en grand cru
Area in production : 174,97 ha
Variety and types of wine : pinot noir exclusively
Classification : Villages,
Premier Cru and Grand Cru
Romanée-Conti
: Sold in 1760 to Louis-François Bourbon, Prince of Conti, the
name Romanée-Conti
(a rare example in Burgundy of a family name being added to the name of
the Village) was not used until the 18th century. Until then, the wines
produced on this magnificent land were called Romanée.
It was thanks to the Prince of Conti that the name became widely known.
For just sixteen years, he built up the reputation of his wine, then bequeathed
the land to his son when he died. His son sold everything he had in 1783,
with the exception of Romanée. But during the French Revolution
of 1789, the land was declared national property and was sold. From then
on, there were then several owners and today it belongs exclusively to
the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
An area of 1.80 ha., the vines are planted in deep soil composed of brown
clay and hard chalk giving powerful, ample, rich wines with exceptional
ageing potential.
La
Romanée : Going by the historical texts, this vineyard dates
from Roman times, probably the origin of its name. Christened the "centre
pearl", due to its geographical situation, in the heart of the Grands
Crus of Vosne Romanée it is the smallest Appellation d'Origine
Contrôlée, not only on the Côte de Nuits, but in the
whole of France : it only covers 0.85 ha., producing less than 4 000 bottles
per year! Just like Romanée-Conti
a little further south, La
Romanée has all the producing favourable conditions for a magnificent
red wine : limestone-clay soil mixed with some crumbly chalk, giving body
and elegance and quite a steep slope to allow the rain to drain away.
The estate belongs to Général Liger Belair, owner of the
Château de Vosne
Romanée. A legendary wine, it will unveil all its qualities
after a few years in the cellar. It is then that it will break out into
black fruit and spices, evolving towards smoky, woody notes. Very ample,
silky and fresh, this Grand Cru presents remarkable complexity and length
on the palate.
Romanée Saint Vivant : this "Climat" has existed since
the 13th century. In 1232, the monks from the Saint Vivant monastery at
Vergy received a donation and for several centuries, this land belonged
to the monks. In 1791, everything was confiscated by the nation. The estate
was sold in 1793 and then passed into the hands of several owners. Since
1988, the greater part of this "Climat" has belonged to the
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti;
the soil is different from that of Romanée-Conti,
rich in chalk and clay and produces wines with an intense bouquet of fresh
earth, very feminine and delicate.
Richebourg : Surrounded by la
Romanée et la Romanée
Conti, this "Climat" covering 9.27 ha. built up its reputation
thanks to its owners, the monks at the abbey at Cîteaux until the
French Revolution in 1789. They made the Richebourg wines in the castle
at Clos Vougeot where they had built their cellars. This Grand Cru is
usually a very deep red colour; on the nose aromas of red fruit and violet
evolving towards more animal, spicy notes; a pleasant combination of strength
and finesse.
La Tâche : This "Climat" probably gained its name from
the word "tâcheron" meaning a worker who tends the vine
in exchange for a salary, but has no fixed hours. The first traces of
the name go back to 1622. The vineyard covers 6.10 ha. on a shallow slope
at an altitude of 300 metres on stony ground ensuring good drainage. La
Tâche is both solid and harmonious, like all the Grands Crus of
Vosne Romanée.
La Grande Rue : mentioned as early as 1450,this "Climat" has
always received the most praiseworthy comments - although this little
vineyard of 1.65 ha. was not classed as a Grand Cru until 1992. Previously,
the wines from here were sold under the name "Romanée Grande
Rue". Situated between the roads of La
Romanée vineyard and La Tâche, the land has characteristics
which resemble Romanée with eroded, pebbly, chalk ground. A great
wine for laying down, it develops aromas of violet, raspberry with musky
nuances. A wine of character with lots of body.
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