Beschreibung:

DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE-CONTI METHUSELUM 1985, 1988 & 1989 'Romanée-Conti' as the local proverb goes, 'is the central pearl of the Burundian necklace.' This minuscule vineyard gives its name to the most famous Domaine in the world, commonly referred to as 'D.R.C.' or more reverentially, as 'The Domaine' This pearl, this small jewel, just under 5 acres, was coveted by a famous collector of jewelry, Madame de Pompadou, but she was out bid by the Prince de Conti, hence the name. The King's minister won against the King's mistress! In 1868 the vineyard passed to the de Villaine family and is still, today, managed by Aubert de Villaine. It never fails to astonish me that the strips of vines which stretch only a modest number of metres up the very gentle slopes from the outskirts of an equally modest, indeed the remarkably rural rambling village of Vosne, are capable of producing wines of such world class quality. The strips of vines cultivated by the Domaine include La Tâche (nearly 15 acres), also a 'monopole' or wholly owned vineyard, 13 acres of Romanée-Saint-Vivant--most elegant wine and, I think, fractionally underrated and over 8 acres of the more substantial Richebourg. Then, stricly speaking not in Vosne-Romanée but over the wall, literally uphill from Clos Vougeot, are 8 acres of the superb Grands-Echézeaux and just over 11 of Echézeaux. One things strikes me forcibly; these five sites prove unquestionably that the French notion of 'terroir' is not a fancy figment of Gallic imagination for the differences between each of the wines is marked, so consistent. Yet all five of the D.R.C. burgundies are made, traditionally, in the same cellars from grapes of the same variety, Pinot Noir. Romanée-Conti itself has a unique concentration, La Tâche has a different sort of intensity, each having a superb yet vividly contrasting bouquet. Richebourg, next door, has a 'broader' character, and so on. So what produces those differences: slight variations in subsoil, slope and drainage, fractionally, virtually imperceptible microclimates. Who knows? But fermented and élévé identically, the final wines are different. The price? Well, of course, there is no getting away from the bare facts: the production is so small and the world demand so high that even opening prices make one wince. But this is nothing new. The finest wines have always been the prerogative of the seriously rich or fortunately privileged, from the fat Prelates to their Royal Masters. Michael Broadbent, M.W. The next 26 lots (815-840) consist of the largest collection of large format bottles of this extraordinary property Zachys/Christie's has yet to come across, and we are privileged to offer this opportunity for our collectors. Romanée-Conti--Vintage 1985 Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti In original wooden case Chipped wax capsule 1 methuselah per lot