Originally owned by the Abbey of Saint-Vivant in Vosne, the land that would become Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was bought by the de Croonembourg family between 1659 and 1760.
The vines were then purchased in 1760 by Pierre-Alexandre Duflot, a wealthy merchant from Paris who became mayor of Vosne in 1774.
He was succeeded as the owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti following his death in 1808 by his son-in law, Nicolas Defer de la Guerre, after which time it remained within this family for two hundred years until its acquisition by Aubert et du Chesnay wine company during the consolidation of many small producers into larger concerns that took place throughout France at that time.
Since 1921 when Aubert et du Chesnay sold off its other estates including Château de Gilly, Château des Jacques and Domaine du Jaugaret to the Dubois-Challon family (which was then itself subsequently acquired by LVMH in 1995).
The estate has been owned solely by the DRC company under whose name it is marketed. Today this business is controlled and managed by the Aubert de Villaine family, who are direct descendants of those original owners.
The vineyards cover a total area of 40 hectares and yield an average annual production of 800 cases per hectare (31 cases/acre). The principal grape varieties grown here include Pinot noir, representing over 99% of the grapes grown, with some small amounts of Chardonnay and Pinot blanc. The vines average thirty years of age, with some in excess of fifty.
In terms of the winemaking process, grapes from this vineyard are hand-harvested at night in order to ensure that they do not become overripe or damaged by exposure to sunlight during transport.
They are then pressed immediately which leads to a higher level of concentration and flavour intensity as well as lower yields per bottle than those produced elsewhere on the estate due to an optimum release of juice without too much pressure being applied.
The wines themselves can be aged for several decades before reaching their peak but even when young exhibit complex flavours and aromas reminiscent of fruit such as cherries, raspberries, black currants, violets and spices like pepper with notes often found only in older wines present as well.
In the glass, they have a deep colour and are described as being “silly” with great intensity, especially those from La Tâche that can last for several hours after being poured with some bottles having been known to age well into their third decade or longer.
