2017 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: A Day’s Work

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | JULY 09, 2020

The annual presentation of new releases from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in early March was the last tasting I attended before lockdown. Initially I thought I would publish this article as a bookend, when things returned to normal. Back then, I could have never imagined where we would be today. After reading Neal Martin’s article Complex, Not Complicated: 2017 DRC in Bottle chronicling the London edition, I decided to shamelessly rip off his format. So, here you have my version… 

The complete lineup of 2017s from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

6:00am: It’s Thursday March 5th. The day of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti tasting for the trade in New York. Aubert and Bertrand de Villaine are in town to show the new vintage, 2017, in a small sit-down tasting hosted by long-time importer Wilson Daniels. I always look forward to this day. Of course, it’s a great opportunity to taste the wines in a calm setting, but just as much I enjoy seeing so many wine professionals I rarely get to spend time with outside their restaurants, shops and offices. This year’s event is smaller than in past, though, as it is focused just on the press…more on that later.

I wake up very early, still jet lagged from last week’s ski holiday with the kids. Little do I know that will be my last trip to Europe for what is now nearly five months and counting. Before I get to DRC, I’ve got an early appointment with the painting crew, one of the last steps in getting my house back in order following severe water damage a few months ago. It’s been an arduous process to say the least. Breakfast is my typical huge pot of Illy espresso done on an old Italian stove top moka, cereal with fruit and a hard-boiled egg.

7:00am: A little early morning guitar practice. I always try to do at least one hour of playing in the morning, as I find it really clears my mind and is relaxing to me. I am particularly attached to my new Rust guitar right now. There is nothing like an instrument that has been built just for you. Time to get to work, though.

8:30am: The painters are late, but I have allowed extra time, so everything should be OK.

9:00am: Maybe I spoke too soon. The painters are now very late, but that’s not the worst of it. I might be late for the DRC tasting. Let me tell you something: the phrases ‘DRC’ and ‘late’ are not meant to be uttered in the same sentence.

9:15am: White Dove, Simply White, Snowfall White, Satin, Flat…The infinite intricacies of wine and music I can understand, no problem. Choosing paint colors? That gives me severe anxiety. I mean, what if you make a glaring mistake?