The 2009 Grands-Echezeaux jumps from the glass with vivid aromatics and equally voluptuous fruit. Despite its richness, the Grands-Echezeaux seems to hover on the palate. Layers of fruit continue to build to the long super-refined finish. Over the last few years the Grands-Echezeaux seems like the most improved wine at DRC. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s 2009s have turned out just as brilliantly as I had hoped. The wines reflect the signature qualities of the year, but never lose their essential classicism. Long-time DRC fans know the domaine bottles in six-barrel lots, which naturally introduces a level of bottle variation that is not found in most other wines. I hope the massive amount of information that has recently come to light regarding counterfeit wines and their proliferation might be the catalyst for the domaine to consider bottling their wines in one homogenous lot, as is common for the vast majority of high-quality wines throughout the world. Once the domaine’s wines mature in 20-30 years it will be impossible to tell the difference between ‘normal’ bottle variation, poorly stored bottles and very good fakes. Certainly consumers who are willing and able to pay the prices these wines fetch are at the very least deserving of a consistent product. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

Plenty of substance and depth, boasting a green, leafy, youthful nose, with cherry and sandalwood notes. Packed with sweet fruit, this is very juicy and long, with an aftertaste of spice and licorice.—Non-blind 2009 DRC tasting (February 2012). Best from 2016 through 2038.??–BS??Region: France / Burgundy / Grands Echézeaux Select to Add

The 2009 Grands échézeaux Grand Cru is not going to win any awards for nuance, but it is explosive, hedonistically satisfying and just tremendously delicious. After all, the first thing a wine should do is deliver pleasure. The 2009 GE certainly does that. Wow.