Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2017 La Romanée Grand Cru shows a minuscule touch of VA on the nose, but not enough to cover the intense brambly red fruit underneath, or the veins of blueberry and violet; instead, it lends energy to the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, a killer line of acidity, and firm but fine, satin-textured tannins. This is full of energy and tension and finishes amazingly long and reassuringly luxuriant. Utterly sublime, and it surpasses my expectations from barrel. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2017 La Romanée Grand Cru, which contains around 15% whole bunches this year, has one of the most understated bouquets that I have encountered from this monopole in recent years (in a similar manner to La Tâche). This is very succinct, very understated, and opts to gradually unfurl its crushed-stone-infused red fruit. The palate is very precise on the entry, displaying perfectly judged acidity and an effortless quality that reminds me of the superlative 2006 recently tasted. It is very long in the mouth and extremely pure but does not showboat. Wonderful.
The 2017 La Romanée Grand Cru is characteristically impressive, unfurling in the glass with an extravagant bouquet of cassis, violets, dark chocolate, espresso roast, sweet spices, orange rind and rose hip that has integrated its lavish framing of new wood more completely than any other wine in the cellar. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and satiny with a deep, sapid core of concentrated fruit that largely conceals its broad structural shoulders, concluding with a pungently intense but subtly wood-inflected finish. This has the makings of a comparatively precocious vintage of La Romanée that will offer a broad drinking window.
About the producer
Since its rebirth in 2000, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair has quickly become one of the most highly sought-after producers in Vosne-Romanée. The most prized wine from the estate is their monopole Grand Cru La Romanée.