DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE-CONTI Corton Grand Cru 2018 Bottle

Description

CORNEY & BARROW 18 points/20
The hill of Corton has a suitably majestic presence whose twin adornments Pernand-Vergelesses on the left and Aloxe-Corton on the right appear almost insignificantly small. Unsurprisingly the hill also dwarfs the minute size of the Domaine’s three plots – “Le Clos du Roi” (0.57 hectares), “Les Bressandes” (1.2 hectares) and “Les Renardes” (0.5 hectares). For me the 2018 pips the outstanding 2015. This Corton, the first to be harvested, wears the vintage effortlessly. Deep ruby heart, almost opaque. The nose offers a dark, meaty rich perfume, earthy, slightly “wild” with hints of stony minerality. The palate has a substantial and velvet dry structure cased in sweet almost debauched fruit – so rare in Corton - with the merest kick of grainy “grit in the oyster” grip to a finish of rather beautiful length. Recommended drinking from 2028 - 2035.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by Tim Atkin MW(at 2018 En primeur tastings, Burgundy, 20 Oct 2018)
DRC made one of the three parcels that make up this Grand Cru blend - Renardes, Bressandes and Clos du Roi - on its own in 2018 but concluded that it was better blended with the other two after all. Fermented with 90% whole bunches, it's sweeter, spicier and less rustic than many Cortons, showing considerable finesse, sweet spices, fine-grained oak and some grip. Drinking Window 2025 - 2036.