Romanee-Conti is a Grand Cru vineyard site (and corresponding appellation ) of the Cote de Nuits sub-region of Burgundy. One of six Grand Cru sites in the village of Vosne-Romanee, the vineyard is the only one to be bordered on all sides by other Grand Crus.
The vineyard was originally part of a larger site known by its 17th-century owners (the de Croonembourg family) as La Romanee. The -Conti suffix was appended when the Prince of Conti - a cousin of King Louis XV - acquired the land a century later. It is claimed that the Prince reserved the wines from this vineyard exclusively for his own personal consumption, and sold only the wines from the neighboring La Tache vineyard.
Romanee-Conti and its famous stone cross
Covering just 620ft (190m) across at its widest point, the Romanee-Conti appellation is one of the very smallest in France. It is joined on that list by its immediate neighbors, La Grande Rue and La Romanee – the remaining portion of the once-larger Romanйe vineyard.
Today, the Romanee-Conti site is a monopole of the Societe Civil du Domaine de la Romanee-Conti – or simply 'DRC' for short. The relationship between the domaine and the vineyard is historical, and has led to the domaine's Grand Cru Romanee-Conti wine being amongst the most revered in the world. The release prices for this wine far outstrip even the most expensive Bordeaux reds, the revered 2005 and 2009 vintages included.
Romanee-Conti wines are considered to be the best balance of all the Vosne-Romanee Grand Crus, taking the characteristic elements of each of the neighboring Grand Cru sites and distilling them into a more complete, rounded style.
In order to claim the appellation Romanйe-Conti Grand Cru. wines must be made from at least 85% Pinot Noir grapes (Chardonnay. Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are permitted to a maximum of 15%) grown exclusively within the climat, they must also meet the strict production conditions specified in the appellation laws. These conditions are designed to guarantee the quality of the wines and control such factors as vineyard management, maximum yield levels, and the natural sugar and alcohol content of the finished wine.
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