Domaine de la Romanée-Conti : Corton Grand cru "Prince Florent de Merode" 2013

Characteristics and tasting notes for the 2013 Corton Grand Cru "Prince Florent de Merode" from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Tasting notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a deep, luminous red hue, leaning towards ruby, with lovely brilliance and a slight transparency.

Nose
The nose opens with an aromatic sweetness marked by red fruits such as strawberry and blueberry, accompanied by fresh fig. It then evolves towards floral notes of violet, along with touches of spice, pepper, liquorice and undergrowth, all underlined by delicate oak and a mineral thread.

Palate
The attack is generous and fresh. The palate reveals a solid, youthful structure, carried by well-integrated acidity and fine, ripe tannins. The whole offers an airy sensation, leading to a persistent finish on fruit and spice.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs perfectly with feathered game such as pigeon or pheasant, as well as with fine red meats such as roasted beef fillet. It also complements revisited traditional dishes like beef bourguignon or coq au vin, and goes very well with pressed cooked cheeses such as comté or beaufort.

Serving and cellaring

For an optimal tasting experience of the 2013 Corton Grand Cru "Prince Florent de Merode", it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, after one to two hours of aeration or gentle decanting. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to develop favourably until around 2028.

The purity and structure of a great Burgundy Grand Cru

The estate

Established in its current legal form in 1942, the Société Civile du Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is a benchmark in Burgundy, France. Located in Vosne-Romanée, the estate's origins date back to the 13th century. Today, the estate is co-managed by Perrine Fenal and Bertrand de Villaine. With a vineyard of around 28 hectares farmed biodynamically, the estate stands out for its extremely low yields and its quest for the purest expression of its terroirs, producing some of the most sought-after wines in the world.

The vineyard

The grapes for this wine come from the hill of Corton, in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard covers just over two hectares spread across three historic climats: Bressandes, Clos du Roi and Renardes. The old vines flourish on clay-limestone soils that give the wine depth and freshness. The estate practises rigorous organic and biodynamic viticulture there, promoting biodiversity and meticulous soil care.

The vintage

The year 2013 proved to be a capricious one, marked by cool weather and rainy spells that delayed the growing cycle. These challenging conditions called for great vigilance and a late harvest, carried out in early October. Thanks to very low yields and rigorous sorting, the harvested grapes retained a lovely concentration.

Winemaking and ageing

After hand-harvesting and strict sorting, the winemaking of the 2013 Corton Grand Cru "Prince Florent de Merode" was distinguished by extensive destemming, reaching around 90%. Fermentation took place in vats to preserve aromatic finesse. The wine then underwent careful ageing in French oak barrels, allowing the oak to be subtly integrated into the structure.

Grape variety

100% pinot noir