Domaine de la Romanée-Conti : Echezeaux Grand cru 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the 2020 Échézeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance displays an exceptionally dense purple colour, bearing witness to the wine's concentration and depth.

Nose

The bouquet reveals remarkable aromatic intensity, expressing ripe red and black fruit with elegance. Notes of black strawberry are discovered, accompanied by subtle chocolate and spicy touches. Aromas of red cherry, rose petal, citrus oil, sandalwood, and stony minerality complete this complex olfactory palette. A light oak patina integrates with refinement, never dominating the fruity expression.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unveils a generous fruity structure supported by an invigorating acidity that brings freshness and definition. The tannins, currently coated by the fruit, are of great finesse and suggest a beautiful evolution. The whole is characterized by its grace, purity, and remarkable length. The profile remains proportioned and transparent, favoring the clarity of expression of the terroir and the vintage rather than massive power.

Food and wine pairings

This Grand Cru pairs magnificently with feathered game such as duck, goose, or pheasant. Grilled or roasted game meats, notably venison and wild boar, are also excellent choices, particularly when accompanied by mushrooms or truffled preparations. The wine also harmonizes with firm or hard aged cheeses favoring mineral and savory characters. More delicate preparations like herb-roasted duck, mushroom gnocchi, or seared tuna represent refined pairings.

Service and storage

It is recommended to decant the 2020 Échézeaux about one hour before serving, or to let it evolve gradually upon opening over several hours. The ideal service temperature is between 15 and 16°C. This wine can be tasted from 2028 and until approximately 2060.

A Burgundy Grand Cru combining concentration and freshness

The estate

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is rooted in Burgundy's viticultural heritage since the thirteenth century, when the monks of the Saint-Vivant priory undertook the planting of vines on this exceptional terroir. Structured under its current form in 1942 by Edmond Gaudin de Villaine, the estate today extends over approximately twenty-nine hectares distributed between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. Since 2022, Perrine Fenal and Bertrand de Villaine have co-managed the estate, perpetuating a philosophy of excellence based on biodynamic agriculture practiced since 1986 and yields voluntarily limited between twenty and thirty hectoliters per hectare. Recognized globally as one of the most prestigious producers in Burgundy, the estate embodies a vision of heritage transmission where each generation considers itself the temporary guardian of a timeless heritage.

The vineyard

The estate's Échézeaux plots cover about 4.67 hectares distributed over several distinct climats within this vast Grand Cru. The majority of the vines are located in the highly prized Les Poulaillères sector, considered the heart of the vineyard, where the best exposures confer concentration and refinement to the wines. These vines benefit from limestone soils that bring this characteristic minerality perceptible in the wine. Cultivated according to biodynamic principles, they are managed with meticulous attention paid to each plot. The yield for the 2020 vintage stood at 28 hectoliters per hectare.

The vintage

The year 2020 was distinguished by exceptional weather conditions in Burgundy. After a well-watered winter replenishing water reserves, budburst occurred early on March 20, initiating an accelerated vegetative cycle. Flowering took place in May, reaching its midpoint in late May or early June. The summer proved particularly hot and dry, with rainfall representing about half the usual volumes, creating water stress beneficial to berry concentration. Unlike the heatwave vintage of 2003, the heat of 2020 remained moderate with cool nights and north-westerly Atlantic winds tempering diurnal temperatures. The grapes, small in size with thick, black skins, reached exceptional phenolic and physiological maturity. The harvest began very early on August 23 and ended on September 3, prioritizing the preservation of freshness and acidity.

Winemaking and ageing

The 2020 Échézeaux grapes were harvested only in the morning to preserve their freshness. Vinification respects the estate's traditional methods, with a low-intervention approach aiming to express the transparency of the terroir. Ageing takes place in oak barrels with a controlled proportion of new wood, allowing for subtle integration of the wood without masking the fruity expression. This refined approach preserves aromatic purity while bringing structure and complexity to the wine.

Grape

100% Pinot Noir