Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux 2021 750ml

The 2021 Grands Échezeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti showcases this prestigious Grand Cru in a vintage that demanded all of the domaine's considerable expertise. While 2021 presented numerous challenges, DRC's meticulous approach has produced a wine of remarkable purity and precision that may ultimately be remembered as one of the vintage's greatest successes.

The nose displays extraordinary clarity and definition, with the cooler vintage conditions producing a more ethereal, almost translucent expression of this great terroir. Fresh red cherry and wild strawberry aromas are lifted by an enchanting floral bouquet - violet, iris, and rose petal seem to float from the glass with exceptional delicacy. The whole-cluster signatures are evident but refined, adding white pepper, stem spice, and herbal complexity without any green notes. Already, hints of the domaine's signature complexity emerge - forest floor, black tea, and exotic spices.

On the palate, this wine achieves that seemingly impossible DRC balance between weightlessness and concentration. Despite the vintage challenges, rigorous selection has resulted in a Grands Échezeaux of surprising depth and intensity. The texture is pure silk, with ultra-fine tannins that seem to dissolve on the tongue. Bright red fruit flavors - cranberry, pomegranate, and blood orange - are enhanced by notes of Chinese five-spice, sandalwood, and minerals. The natural high acidity of 2021 actually works in the wine's favor here, providing structure and ensuring exceptional longevity.

What distinguishes Grands Échezeaux from Échezeaux is evident even in this challenging vintage - there's an extra dimension of complexity, a broader aromatic spectrum, and a more profound mineral expression. Mid-palate, the wine reveals layers that justify its elevated status: white truffle, dried herbs, iron, and that distinctive sous-bois character that marks great Burgundy. Despite the cooler conditions, there's no lack of ripeness or complexity.

This 2021 showcases DRC's philosophy perfectly - in difficult vintages, their uncompromising standards and meticulous viticulture truly shine. Rather than attempting to mask the vintage character, they've embraced its natural elegance and transparency, creating a Grands Échezeaux that may lack the obvious power of warmer years but compensates with superior definition and purity. This is intellectual Burgundy at its finest.

The finish is remarkably long and detailed, with persistent notes of red fruit, exotic spices, and mineral undertones that seem to gain intensity rather than fade. While this wine will require patience to show its full potential, those who cellar it properly will be rewarded with a unique expression of this great terroir. In 20-30 years, this may well be recognized as one of the vintage's greatest achievements - a testament to how great terroir and masterful winemaking can transcend challenging conditions.