Site and Terroir
Romanée-Conti is a Grand Cru appellation in the wine region of the Côte de Nuits and is located in the commune of Vosne-Romanée in the French department of Côte-d’Or. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of about 250 to 310 metres and are oriented to the east, partly slightly east-southeast. The vineyard, which covers around 1.8140 hectares, has a brown limestone soil about 60 centimetres deep with a high proportion of clay over solid limestone from the Jurassic period.
Grape Variety and Wine Style
Pinot Noir is the most important grape variety. Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are permitted as complementary varieties and together are limited to 15 percent of each parcel. The appellation applies exclusively to still red wine. The red wines from this Grand Cru group can mature for a long time; their initially dark ruby-red colour develops, with increasing age, towards scarlet. Flavours described include red and black fruits, violets and spices, as well as undergrowth as it ripens.
History and Legal Status
The history of the vineyard is connected with the priory of Saint-Vivant, founded in 900, the transfer of land to the priory in 1131 and the acquisition of vines in 1241. The later Romanée-Conti was mentioned in 1512 as Cloux de Saint-Vivant, sold in 1584 as Cros des Cloux and recorded for the first time under the name Romanée in 1651. Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, acquired the vineyard in 1760. The appellation was recognised on 11 September 1936 and classified as a Grand Cru. The vineyard was historically held by a single hand; in 1942, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was founded as a société civile.
Requirements in the Vineyard and the Cellar
The appellation prescribes a yield of 35 hectolitres per hectare, with a maximum yield of 49 hectolitres, as well as at least 9,000 vines per hectare. Short pruning and simple Guyot are permitted, with at most eight fruit-bearing eyes per vine. Chemical weed control, permanent tillage of the headlands, irrigation and significant changes to the soil profile or landscape structures are forbidden. Wooden pieces and continuous pressing may not be used; the wine must be matured for at least until 15 June of the year following the harvest.
