The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 2003 is a remarkable wine from the highly regarded Richebourg Grand Cru vineyard, produced by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC). The 2003 vintage is particularly notable due to the extreme heatwave that affected Burgundy, making it a year of unique challenges but also resulting in distinctive wines.

• Region: Burgundy, Côte de Nuits.
• Appellation: Richebourg Grand Cru, one of the most prestigious vineyards producing Pinot Noir. Richebourg wines are known for their power, depth, and rich character.
• Vintage: 2003, a year that was marked by intense heat across Europe. The heatwave resulted in earlier harvests and highly concentrated wines with ripe fruit flavors. This vintage is distinctive for its boldness and rich textures, though it has divided opinions among Burgundy purists due to its atypical style for the region.
• Bottle Size: 75cl (standard size).
• Tasting Notes:
  • The 2003 Richebourg is known for its opulence and concentration. Expect intense flavors of ripe dark fruits (blackberry, plum, black cherry), along with notes of spices, earth, and a touch of licorice.
  • The wine’s tannins are typically firm and structured, though in 2003, the heat softened the tannins slightly, making the wine more approachable at an earlier stage than usual.
  • The wine also retains a signature elegance and length, though with a more powerful, almost exotic expression compared to cooler vintages.
• Aging Potential: Although 2003 was a hot vintage, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines are known for their long aging potential. Many 2003 Richebourg bottles are still showing excellent development and can be aged for another decade or more, but the wine is also enjoyable now due to its ripeness and softer tannins.