The breed and elegance of Romanée-Conti are immediately apparent from the detailed aromatic palette of the 2011 that ranges from pomegranate to blackcurrant, accented with notes of smoke, earth, star anise, and a suggestion of lavender. The aromas are elegant and somewhat restrained but continue to open up with time in the glass. The texture is firm and compact, yet there is nothing astringent or hard about the wine – it is starting to be approachable even now but will continue to age and improve for decades. Picked 6 September; 5,673 bottles produced.

The 2011 Romanee-Conti was picked on 6 September at 26.83hl/ha. As usual, the Romanee-Conti is reticent at first, as if the wine is checking you out before deciding whether you are worthy. It then unfurls to reveal a precise, exquisitely focused bouquet with crushed strawberry, flint and smoke. The palate is devastatingly smooth on the entry. The tannins are lace-like, the acidity perfectly judged and it gently crescendos in the mouth towards a seductive poised finish that lingers incredibly long. This is a master-class in ‘less being more’: a consummate Romanee-Conti for mid- rather than long-term cellaring. 473 cases produced. Drink 2017-2035+- NM