Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/490558
94 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2015 { cellar view } THE MOST ICONIC PROPERTY IN THE ENTIRE world of wine is Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, a 61-acre collection of six vineyard estates located in the village of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. (Another acre and a half of Le Montrachet is owned further south in Chassagne-Montrachet.) One of DRC's crown jewels is Grands-Echézeaux, a vine- yard situated just across the road from Clos Vougeot. DRC owns a bit more than eight acres of this more than 22-acre Grand Cru spread; there are 20 other owners. Because of its rarity (fewer than 1,300 cases are pro- duced) and its high price (the average cost per bottle is more than $1,200), very few people actually get to taste this great wine. Sitting down to a vertical tasting of six vintages was an unprecedented experience. The tasting took place on February 10, 2015 at République restaurant in Los Angeles. The tasters were: Taylor Parsons, Wine Director at République; Maria Garcia, Sommelier at République; Caroline Styne, co- owner and Wine Director, AOC/Lucques/Tavern; Paul Sherman, Sommelier of Valentino; Karen Moneymaker, Senior Editor, The SOMM Journal; and myself. Thanks to Jack Daniels and Jennifer Brown of Wilson Daniels for making this extraordinary tasting possible. Clearly, as the following notes and scores would attest, the wines lived up to their exalted reputation. The tasting panel assembled (left to right): Maria Garcia, Sommelier at République; Taylor Parsons, Wine Director at République; Caroline Styne, co-owner and Wine Director, AOC/Lucques/Tavern; Anthony Dias Blue, Editor-in-Chief, The SOMM Journal; Paul Sherman, Sommelier of Valentino; Karen Moneymaker, Senior Editor, The SOMM Journal. A Tasting for the Ages OUR LOS ANGELES PANEL TAKES A DEEP PLUNGE INTO A VERTICAL FROM DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE-CONTI by Anthony Dias Blue / photos by Dustin Downing