1996 Echezeaux, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The 1996 Échezeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti carries the vintage’s famed acidity with remarkable poise. The nose unfolds slowly, revealing dried cherry, cranberry, and rose petal, layered with notes of sous-bois, iron, and a delicate savoury spice. There is a cool, autumnal clarity to the aromatics, more introspective than opulent.
On the palate, the wine is precise and tensile, driven by a vibrant, almost electric acidity that gives the fruit lift and definition. The texture is finely woven rather than expansive, with tannins that have softened into a gentle, silky frame. Flavours of red berries, citrus peel, and earthy undertones glide across the palate with quiet persistence. The finish is long, mineral, and refreshing, leaving impressions of dried flowers and stone. A wine of elegance and intellectual depth — refined, resolved, and unmistakably DRC in its restraint.
2000 Chateau Margaux
The 2000 Château Margaux is a wine of effortless grandeur, combining the generosity of the millennium vintage with the château’s signature finesse. The bouquet is immediately captivating — ripe blackcurrant, violet, cedar, and graphite woven into a seamless aromatic whole. With air, subtler notes of sandalwood, dried herbs, and cigar box emerge, adding depth without weight.
On the palate, the wine is remarkably fluid and composed, its dark fruit gliding over a core of perfectly integrated tannins. The structure feels both firm and supple, giving the wine a sense of movement rather than mass. Acidity keeps the wine lifted, allowing flavours of cassis, plum, and fine spice to unfold in calm succession. The finish is long, refined, and gently perfumed, echoing floral and mineral notes. A benchmark Margaux — harmonious, expressive, and quietly magnificent.
