Domaine de la Romanee-Conti - Romanee-Conti Grand Cru - 2006 - Magnum

An extraordinary as well as extraordinarily intense aromatic display greets you from the glass of 2006 Romanee-Conti. Rose petals, griotte cherries, almond extract, mint, and cinnamon once again put me in mind of archetypal pinot with a soupcon of Gewurztraminer. The remarkable perfume and spice continue inner-mouth, allied to a silken textural refinement (as if the tannins were self-dissolving); to pure, fresh, but not at all superficially sweet cherry and raspberry essence; and to deep, marrowy meatiness and hints of truffle and forest floor. This pivots at midpoint, as it were – though far more subtly than does its Richebourg sibling – from perfume and fruit to almost sinister animal and mineral suggestions. The finish here is at once positively ethereal and deeply, darkly mysterious, like lingering harmony at the extremes of audibility. I suspect it will also outlive the other wines from this estate and vintage. 98 Points David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate More pink than garnet and especially bright, even glossy. Aromas are both sweetly fruited and just a little savoury. A mildly meaty and darker character to the fruit. Overlaid on all that a fine oaky spice. Fine and tight like a pressed suit. Just a little peppery. Already fragrant and juicy even though there is a real depth of unopened fruit and savour. Fine and deceptively firm. 19.5 Points/Drink 2018-2035 - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com