Cellar Favorite:
1952 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 

BY NEAL
MARTIN | JUNE 30, 2025

This
bottle of 1952 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru was poured blind after an already
memorable dinner themed around the illustrious Domaine’s 2002s held at Cornus
restaurant in London. This is a significant vintage, which is why I separated
it for a Cellar Favourite. The 1952 vintage marked the return of the
Romanée-Conti cuvée after the monopole’s ungrafted vines were pulled out following
the 1945 harvest. Therefore, this ’52 came from young vines that had taken root
in 1947. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1750954259952-romanee+conti+1952+bottle_Vinous.JPG">Firstly,
I notice the colour, pale ruby with a little bricking on the rim, giving away
maturity. However, the nose is so vivid that it threw everyone off its actual
age, revealing sensual redcurrant and strawberry mixed with subtle ferrous
aromas, later, a suggestion of menthol. It is no longer powerful, but now airy
and more ethereal. The palate has a subtle garrigue-tinged opening and an
almost balletic balance. Again, the 1952 is not powerful, yet there is a core
of slightly candied fruit and an elegant finish. Of course, this is an
extraordinarily rare and expensive bottle, but it signified the reemergence of
“the king” and all the vintages that followed. It was a complete privilege to
drink this piece of history. 95/Drink 2025-2040.© 2025, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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