Domaine de la Romanée-Conti : Corton Grand cru "Prince Florent de Merode" 2013

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Corton Grand cru "Prince Florent de Merode" 2013 from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Tasting

Colour
The wine shows a deep, luminous red hue verging on ruby, with a beautiful brilliance and a slight transparency.

Nose
The nose opens with an aromatic sweetness of red fruits such as strawberry and blueberry, joined by fresh fig. It then evolves towards floral notes of violet and touches of spice, pepper, liquorice and undergrowth, all underscored by delicate oak and a mineral backbone.

Palate
The attack is indulgent and fresh. The palate reveals a firm, youthful structure, carried by well-integrated acidity and fine, ripe tannins. The whole offers an ethereal sensation, leading to a long finish of fruit and spice.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine is an ideal match for game birds such as pigeon or pheasant, as well as noble red meats like roast fillet of beef. It also complements reinvented traditional dishes such as boeuf bourguignon or coq au vin, and pairs beautifully with hard cooked cheeses such as Comté or Beaufort.

Serving and cellaring

To enjoy the Corton Grand cru "Prince Florent de Merode" 2013 at its best, serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, after one to two hours of aeration or gentle decanting. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to develop gracefully until around 2028.

The purity and structure of a great Burgundy grand cru

The estate

Established in its current legal form in 1942, the Société Civile du Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is a benchmark estate in Burgundy, France. Located in Vosne-Romanée, the property traces its origins back to the 13th century. Today, the domaine is co-managed by Perrine Fenal and Bertrand de Villaine. With a vineyard of around 28 hectares farmed biodynamically, the domaine stands out for its very low yields and its pursuit of the purest expression of its terroirs, producing some of the most sought-after wines in the world.

The vineyard

The grapes for this wine come from the hill of Corton, in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard covers just over two hectares spread across three historic climats: Bressandes, Clos du Roi and Renardes. The old vines thrive on clay-limestone soils that give the wine depth and freshness. The domaine practises rigorous organic and biodynamic viticulture here, encouraging biodiversity and meticulous soil work.

The vintage

2013 proved to be a challenging year, marked by cool weather and spells of rain that delayed the growing cycle. These difficult conditions called for great vigilance and a late harvest, carried out in early October. Thanks to very low yields and rigorous sorting, the harvested berries retained fine concentration.

Vinification and ageing

Following hand harvesting and strict sorting, the vinification of the Corton Grand cru "Prince Florent de Merode" 2013 was distinguished by extensive destemming of around 90%. Fermentation took place in vats to preserve aromatic finesse. The wine was then carefully aged in French oak barrels, allowing the oak to blend subtly into the structure.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir