The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) produces what many consider the world's greatest wine. The monopole vineyard of La Romanée-Conti covers just 1.8 hectares in Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, yielding fewer than 6,000 bottles per year from ancient Pinot Noir vines whose average age exceeds 50 years. The domaine is co-owned by the Leroy and de Villaine families, who apply biodynamic principles with near-religious rigour. Every décision — from pruning to harvest timing to bottling — aims to preserve and transmit the précise character of this exceptional parcel of Côte de Nuits limestone.
The DRC Portfolio: Eight Grand Crus of Extraordinary Distinction
Beyond the flagship Romanée-Conti itself, the domaine controls seven other Grand Cru parcels: La Tâche (monopole, 6 hectares), Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands Échézeaux, Échézeaux, and — in Montrachet — a minuscule 0.68-hectare plot of Chardonnay. Each wine expresses its distinct terroir with exceptional clarity. La Tâche is widely considered the second wine of the domaine, combining power with silkiness across decades. Montrachet, when available, represents the pinnacle of white Burgundy.
DRC Prices: Understanding the World's Most Expensive Wine
A single bottle of Romanée-Conti grand vin typically sells for €15,000 to €35,000 at auction; exceptional vintages from the 1970s and 1980s can exceed €50,000. The rest of the DRC range, while considerably less, still commands premium prices — La Tâche at €2,500–€5,000, Richebourg at €1,200–€2,500. DRC wines are sold exclusively through a négociant allocation system; purchasing a bottle requires either connections, patience or access to specialist fine wine merchants and auction houses. Provenance and storage history are paramount considerations before any purchase.
