Which DRC to try

[Andrew_K]

03-04 are the worst vintages of the 2000s (although 04 is at least not green for drc). Rsv is also an improving vineyard (bc drc hasn’t owned it that long). If you wanted a more hedonistic experience, the 09 rsv I mentioned from Astor would be better.

Really? That’s surprising, but I haven’t had enough from that era to say one way or the other. I’ll have to keep an eye out for an 07 RSV to compare.

[MChang]

03-04 are the worst vintages of the 2000s (although 04 is at least not green for drc). Rsv is also an improving vineyard (bc drc hasn’t owned it that long). If you wanted a more hedonistic experience, the 09 rsv I mentioned from Astor would be better.

Really? That’s surprising, but I haven’t had enough from that era to say one way or the other. I’ll have to keep an eye out for an 07 RSV to compare.

Drc did better than most in 04 but if you take a look at the burgundy vintage chart most people consider 03-04 to be the worst vintages in the last 20 years.

07 is a very underrated vintage in my opinion and drinking best of anything at the moment besides 99-02. It’s the vintage I’ve been backfilling most of. Got some 07 la tache earlier in the year for <2500 and wmj noted its the wine that’s most rapidly increasing in price at auction. Envoyer offered it at 3500 on Thursday.

Of note, that offer had 04 LT at 2595 which isn’t awful.

[William_Kelley]

I would say that, given the weight of expectations that come with opening a bottle from this estate, plus the fact that—just extrapolating from your other posts—you seem to enjoy some richer, more powerful styles from Napa and elsewhere, you should look for a more dramatic, impactful wine from DRC. And so I would suggest the 2009 La Tâche as something that will definitely make a big impression.

[m_ristev]

if the op doesn’t drink burgundy it just seems like an exercise in futility.

[alan_weinberg]

I would say that, given the weight of expectations that come with opening a bottle from this estate, plus the fact that—just extrapolating from your other posts—you seem to enjoy some richer, more powerful styles from Napa and elsewhere, you should look for a more dramatic, impactful wine from DRC. And so I would suggest the 2009 La Tâche as something that will definitely make a big impression.

if you have a source for 09 LT at the OP’s price limit of $2000, PM me and I’ll back up the truck!

[alan_weinberg]

Rsv is also an improving vineyard (bc drc hasn’t owned it that long).

not entirely true. They’ve had control of vineyard management since, I believe, the 60s. They recently separated out two parcels of RSV that weren’t up to snuff and that has elevated the remaining vines, though there is now a bit less wine overall. While 03 and 04 are the weakest in the 00 decade, it’s the strongest decade ever and those wines/vintages still rock.

[MChang]

Rsv is also an improving vineyard (bc drc hasn’t owned it that long).

not entirely true. They’ve had control of vineyard management since, I believe, the 60s. They recently separated out two parcels of RSV that weren’t up to snuff and that has elevated the remaining vines, though there is now a bit less wine overall. While 03 and 04 are the weakest in the 00 decade, it’s the strongest decade ever and those wines/vintages still rock.

I think the first vintages were 67ish? My understanding (from meadows and other sources) was that they have improved a lot in the last decade too.

[MChang]

I would say that, given the weight of expectations that come with opening a bottle from this estate, plus the fact that—just extrapolating from your other posts—you seem to enjoy some richer, more powerful styles from Napa and elsewhere, you should look for a more dramatic, impactful wine from DRC. And so I would suggest the 2009 La Tâche as something that will definitely make a big impression.

if you have a source for 09 LT at the OP’s price limit of $2000, PM me and I’ll back up the truck!

Yeah I haven’t seen 09 lt for much less than 4K of late.

[EvanLodes]

Rsv is also an improving vineyard (bc drc hasn’t owned it that long).

not entirely true. They’ve had control of vineyard management since, I believe, the 60s. They recently separated out two parcels of RSV that weren’t up to snuff and that has elevated the remaining vines, though there is now a bit less wine overall. While 03 and 04 are the weakest in the 00 decade, it’s the strongest decade ever and those wines/vintages still rock.

I think the first vintages were 67ish? My understanding (from meadows and other sources) was that they have improved a lot in the last decade too.

They leased RSV starting in ‘66 from Marey-Monge and bought it in ‘88. Though it wasn’t labeled DRC, they made it (I was lucky enough to have this wine in 2016, and one bottle was phenomenal, while another was clearly over the hill)

[William_Kelley]

I would say that, given the weight of expectations that come with opening a bottle from this estate, plus the fact that—just extrapolating from your other posts—you seem to enjoy some richer, more powerful styles from Napa and elsewhere, you should look for a more dramatic, impactful wine from DRC. And so I would suggest the 2009 La Tâche as something that will definitely make a big impression.

if you have a source for 09 LT at the OP’s price limit of $2000, PM me and I’ll back up the truck!

Ah, missed that bit, too bad

[alan_weinberg]

Ah, missed that bit, too bad

and I was hoping to learn your secret source. Damn.

[William_Kelley]

Ah, missed that bit, too bad

and I was hoping to learn your secret source. Damn.

There are restaurants in France where you could drink it for 2k or less, but once you factor in the travel you wouldn’t be making much of a saving on US retail.

[CFu]

Ah, missed that bit, too bad

and I was hoping to learn your secret source. Damn.

There are restaurants in France where you could drink it for 2k or less, but once you factor in the travel you wouldn’t be making much of a saving on US retail.

and the need to sneak in to france! that’ll cost even more!

[Kris_Patten]

Feels like RSV has taken the 3rd position in reds behind RC and LT moving ahead of Richebourg.

[Andrew_K]

Feels like RSV has taken the 3rd position in reds behind RC and LT moving ahead of Richebourg.

They are certainly pricing it as such this year anyway.

[k_s_h_i_n]

Also would recommend RSV for the value. LT is a great value on release but generally has a large premium on the secondary market. I would also recommend getting at least a good vintage for your first. There’s a reason some vintages are considerably cheaper. I just opened an 07 Ech for my birthday and of course it’s DRC but nowhere near the experience as some of the better vintages.

DRC, AdV loves his RSV and now it is priced higher than the Richebourg. My favorite vintage to drink is the 08, so exotic, kinky and expressive.

[k_s_h_i_n]

That’s likely because it’s ech and also ech was much weaker in past years. 07 and rsv are drinking fantastic atm. I’d rather have 07s for current drinking than most vintages besides 99-02.

No doubt RSV would show better. But for my first bottle I still might go to a better vintage. I had an 03 RSV this year that was wonderful, great spice and weight, lovely fruit, everything you want from DRC.

Even for DRC, the 03 was a challenging year and still shows a lot of the ripe fruit.

[Rich_Brown]

if the op doesn’t drink burgundy it just seems like an exercise in futility.

That’s kinda what I was thinking. I totally get wanting to go big for your 40th (I’ll be doing the same), but maybe try tasting some other solid/less expensive producers to make sure you even like burgundy before you drop a couple thou and potentially end up disappointed.

[MChang]

Also would recommend RSV for the value. LT is a great value on release but generally has a large premium on the secondary market. I would also recommend getting at least a good vintage for your first. There’s a reason some vintages are considerably cheaper. I just opened an 07 Ech for my birthday and of course it’s DRC but nowhere near the experience as some of the better vintages.

DRC, AdV loves his RSV and now it is priced higher than the Richebourg. My favorite vintage to drink is the 08, so exotic, kinky and expressive.

I saw that you preferred the 08 to 09; the 09 was more powerful but less exotic?

[k_s_h_i_n]

Also would recommend RSV for the value. LT is a great value on release but generally has a large premium on the secondary market. I would also recommend getting at least a good vintage for your first. There’s a reason some vintages are considerably cheaper. I just opened an 07 Ech for my birthday and of course it’s DRC but nowhere near the experience as some of the better vintages.

DRC, AdV loves his RSV and now it is priced higher than the Richebourg. My favorite vintage to drink is the 08, so exotic, kinky and expressive.

I saw that you preferred the 08 to 09; the 09 was more powerful but less exotic?

Michael,
I think the 09, 10 and the 12 are great vintages for DRC but still primary. The 08s are more accessible and expressive.
Kevin