DRC for drinking now? Please advise

Any help with these from a restaurant list where they are being offered either at or below retail, or at least current Winesearcher, otherwise I would not be considering it,

  1. Corton-Charlemagne Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Grand Cru 2019
    I’ve never had any DRC white and I am sorely tempted. Of course, I’d prefer the Monty, but it’s not being offered. Seems to be half of what’s now on winesearcher, but it still ain’t cheap. Experience with this bottling, if not this vintage? Too young?
  2. Both of these seem to be at current pricing:
    Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, “Saint-Vivant”, Grand Cru 2015
    Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, “Saint-Vivant”, Grand Cru 2014
    I’ve never had their RSV, in fact I’m not sure I’ve had any. Was showing some self control, but then I began smelling Vosne from recall and bottles that unfurl over a night. Hmmm
    3)Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, “Richebourg”, Grand Cru 2017
    My favorite Vosne GC of those I’ve tried. Way too young? (The ones I drink, which are by no means numerous, I’ve been giving 30 years.
    Thanks in advance!

The 19 CC is very good if a bit less than chiseled on the frame. But since prices are north of $4k I don’t think I’d pay that.

17 Rich was already dark and brooding for the vintage and many 17s have been shutting down lately.

14 RSV is probably in a good spot if you can get a couple of hour decant. 15 RSV is going to pack more punch, but at this point would only recommend it if you like quite a bit of primary fruit.

While I’ve had only 15 LT and 14 Ech - the safest bet is the 2014 RSV … or the CC if white …

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14 RSV is good. 15 RSV is bigger

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Thanks, Andrew,

And Paul and Alex. The C-C is le blanc and and only siightly north of $3k, which is why I was tempted:)

I’d be inclined to say the 2017 Richebourg.

It’ll be of the most DRC experience.

I would think the 2014 RSV would be a little stemmy/crunchy, no? I haven’t had it in a while, but I had the 2013 very recently and it was very knotted up and very stemmy.

Didn’t find the 14 stemmy or crunchy.

Agree with you the Richebourg will give you the most DRC like experience of the bunch. I’ve had up and down experiences with Richebourg at this distance from bottling while I have found the 14 and 15 RSVs a bit more approachable recently.

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Good stuff. I would suspect the 2015 RSV would be good (I had the 2015 Eche and Grands Eche several times in the last few years, and both showed really good secondary character), so I’m glad to hear the 2014 is in a good spot.

Look for “Cellared by Rudy Kurniaean” at auction.

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I would go the CC, but also because I love white burgundy:). Unlike the reds, this is highly unlikely to be shut down or anything. I also suspect it will become harder and harder to find in the future, ie fewer opportunities to try one.

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Personally, I wasn’t blown away by the 2019 CC. The 20 and very-hard-to-find 21 are incredible. Putting the comparison aside, it’s good. And, if white burg is your jam, and, without looking at the rest of the list, this is a good wine to drink at USD ~3k in a restaurant.

If I was talking to someone with limited DRC experience and a preference for red, I’d probably say:

2015 RSV
2014 RSV
2017 RB
2019 CC

I agree about the 2019 CC, but I disagree about the 2020.

The 2021 however, WOW.

What we need is to book four tables at this place :).

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I should have been a little clearer: the 2020, for me, is a step or two up from the 19 and the 21 is like 5 steps up. 21 is incredible.

I like this idea!
And thanks everyone. I’ve actually tried a DRC Richebourg–memorable, though the provenance was not immaculate. I’m tempted to go with the C-C, if I pull the trigger at all, as I am, these days, a fan of the whites and also because of the pricing.
My most recent memorable Corton Blanc was the 2014 Bonneau de Martray. Is the DRC a clear step or two up? (It was pretty good.) Of course, price-wise, it ought to be 5-10x better; but I know it does not work like that.
Cheers!

That I would agree with.

I think the hype of the 19 being the first vintage, and the last year with Aubert’s name on the label drove it.

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Price being equal on the reds, my order would be 15 RSV, 17 RB, 14 RSV, 19 CC…

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Well, the BdM 2014 is pretty great - but I suspect more shutdown. I would expect the DRC 2019 to drink better now (and have more richness / intensity).

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Well, I did not find it such, though plenty left in the tank. Below is my note from CT. Thanks @AndyK for your ranking of the reds and @Alex_Valdes and @Ian_Dorin for discussion of vintage. Might not the '15 RSV still be too shut down? The '15 RSV is actually cheaper than the CC and the 14 cheaper still. They are two lowest priced DRC’s on the list. The '13 RSV pops back up there.

1/15/2025 - I like this wine: 95 points (Edit)

So much material and depth here—really a joy to drink. It’s lets forth with a blast of white fruit (and very slight matchstick) on the nose; it shows round and forthcoming on the palate, with the sort of slate (or mild guava?) note, I associate with Corton-Charlemagne. Very long finish.

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My experience with 15s isn’t that they are shut down, but a bit bigger and more primary.

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