1982 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 750ml

The 1982 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru represents an ultra-rare benchmark of mature Burgundy royalty. Furthermore, DRC Richebourg is universally celebrated for its muscular authority, velvety power, and haunting perfume. The 1982 vintage produced wines of extraordinary generosity, early charm, and aromatic sensuality. Consequently, this mature bottle delivers an unforgettable look into classical Vosne-Romanée history.

Additionally, genuine bottles of mature DRC from the early 1980s are exceedingly scarce worldwide. The estate applied ruthless standards across all its historic Grand Cru parcels. Therefore, this pristine 1982 release showcases breathtaking tertiary elegance alongside completely resolved, silky tannins.

Terroir & Viticulture

Richebourg is an historic Grand Cru climat situated just north of Romanée-Conti. Specifically, the vineyard features a premier eastern exposure on the mid-slope of Vosne-Romanée. The soil consists of pebble-strewn clay over hard, fractured Jurassic limestone. As a result, the ancient vines benefit from exceptional natural drainage and deep root penetration.

Meanwhile, the domaine has maintained organic viticultural principles for generations. Workers tended the vines manually without chemical inputs to safeguard natural soil biology. Furthermore, the 1982 growing season saw warm, sunny conditions throughout the summer. Thus, the hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes achieved optimal sugar concentration and supple skin maturity.

Vinification & Craftsmanship

In the cuverie, cellar masters adhered strictly to timeless, non-interventionist winemaking. First, the estate sorted the hand-harvested fruit with legendary severity. In addition, fermentation took place with 100% whole clusters in open-top wooden vats using indigenous yeasts.

Subsequently, the wine matured for approximately 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels from François Frères. The estate avoided excessive racking or pumping to protect the delicate fruit framework. Moreover, the wine was bottled with minimal handling to ensure ageworthy longevity. Today, over four decades of cellar rest have resolved every structural edge into pure velvet.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, the wine presents an antique mahogany core with warm brick-orange rims. Immediately, the nose opens with soaring aromas of dried red cherry, wild raspberry, and violet pastille. In addition, complex secondary notes of black truffle, sous-bois, lapsang souchong tea, and sandalwood evolve with aeration.

On the palate, the wine glides with weightless, satin-like authority. Silky, melted tannins wrap around nuances of dried cherry, blood orange, and forest floor. Meanwhile, a delicate thread of vintage acidity maintains remarkable freshness. Consequently, the finish persists for minutes with haunting floral and mineral complexity.

Technical Specifications

• Producer: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)
• Appellation: Richebourg Grand Cru AOC, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 1982
• Farming: Organic viticulture
• Vinification: 100% Whole-Cluster, Native Yeasts
• Maturation: ~18 months in 100% new French oak (François Frères)
• Alcohol: ~13.0% ABV
• Volume: 750ml

Service & Cellar Potential

Handle this mature legend with extreme reverence upon opening. Specifically, stand the bottle upright for 48 hours prior to service to settle all natural sediment. We advise against aggressive decanting due to its delicate tertiary maturity. Instead, pour directly into large Burgundy stemware after pulling the cork.

Serve this wine between 16°C–18°C (60°F–64°F) alongside roasted squab or truffle-infused game birds. Furthermore, this 1982 vintage is drinking at its absolute tertiary zenith right now. As a result, collectors should open and celebrate this bottle on a momentous occasion.