When it comes to Romanée-Conti, one delves into the history of a winery marked by unique and exceptional qualities. It all began in the 13th century, when the monks of the Saint-Vivant convent sold a small portion of their vineyard—today known as Cros de Clou, one of the most precious crus of the winery’s heritage—to the Croonembourg family.
Over the centuries, ownership of the vineyard changed hands several times until it was acquired by the Princes of Conti in 1760, who decided to name it “La Romanée”.
This vineyard, covering just over 1.8 hectares, is distinguished by its optimal sun exposure, ideal altitude, and unique soil composition. Production is limited to about 6,000 bottles per year, making these wines extremely rare and highly sought after.
Since the 18th century, the estate has grown under successive owners, including the Duvault-Blochet, Leroy/Roch, and de Villaine families. They have added all of Burgundy’s most important grand crus to the estate’s portfolio, including Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, both of which are “monopoles” (exclusively owned) of the estate. Today, the vineyards span 25 hectares and have been managed exclusively using biodynamic methods since 2008.
Thanks to their legendary reputation, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (or DRC) bottles have become true “cult objects,” even finding a place in pop culture. A memorable scene in Guy Ritchie’s series “The Gentlemen” features DRC wines as central to a major business deal between the Duke of Halstead and wealthy businessman Stanley Johnston—played by Theo James and Giancarlo Esposito.
DRC bottles are often the undisputed stars of wine auctions organized by Finarte. Among noteworthy sales, the 2023 Wine and Spirits auction saw a bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru from the 1990 vintage sell for €23,810.
Among the most anticipated lots of the upcoming auction are a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Magnum 1999 (100/100 Parker), listed as Lot 149 with a starting bid of €24,000, and a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 2009 (1 bottle), listed as Lot 142 with a starting bid of €15,000.
The auction will also include an exceptional selection of vintages ranging from 1961 to 2007.
View the complete catalogue of Timeless Treasures / The World’s Finest Wines Across the Ages
