Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is a legendary estate, and while the wines are getting tremendous acclaim throughout the world there are one or actually several relatively unknown vineyards and a rather overlooked wine in the portfolio.
It is well known that Domaine de la Romanée-Conti produces an outstanding Montrachet, and even that they produce an equally excellent Batard-Montrachet, that is not sold commercially – but served at the estate and events.
But actually there is a third white produced by DRC – a Bourgogne Blanc from Hautes Côtes de Nuits – more precisely from the hill Curtil-Vergy where Aubert de Villaine and the Association l’abbaye de Saint-Vivant are restoring the Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy.
A bit of background on the Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy project
One of the (now) most tranquille and beautiful places in Burgundy is the legendary hill in Curtil-Vergy where one find the reminders of the once so influential Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy.
The Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy was a dominant factor in Burgundy before the French revolution, and while the Abbaye located over the village of Curtil-Vergy was destroyed just after the revolution. The Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy and some of the surrounding areas were acquired by Aubert de Villaine and the Association l’abbaye de Saint-Vivant in 1996 and is now being restored and gradually rebuild.
This is truly a historic place in Burgundy, and with the UNESCO world heritage status of the Bourgundian vineyards, this place plays an even bigger role today – as a symbol and landmark for the vineyards and the history related to centuries of winemaking developing the Burgundy we know today.
The Abbaye de Saint-Vivant plays a special role in the DRC history as the order owned a large part of the Romanée Saint-Vivant vineyard prior to the French Revolution and also the old wine making facilities in Vosne-Romanée today housing the administration offices of Domaine-Romanée-Conti and under this building a part of the DRC cellars.
The hill in Curtil-Vergy
The Abbaye de Saint Vivant is located on a hill high above the vineyards of Côte de Nuits on a big hill overlooking the Vergy area – and just above the small village of Curtil-Vergy.
Most of the hill is covered by forest, but there are also some vineyards just next to the Abbaye de Saint-Vivant – one is a planted with Chardonnay and owned by l’Association l’abbaye de Saint-Vivant, and one planted with Aligote – owned by Domaine Bertrand et Axelle Machard de Gramont – see the article about the Aligote vineyard of Axelle Machard de Gramont here.
The Chardonnay vineyard is vinified by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti for Aubert de Villaine and the Association l’abbaye de Saint-Vivant.
Lets take a closer look at this vineyard located just next to the Abbaye buildings that are being restored.
Locating l’Abbaye de Saint-Vivant de Vergy
l’Abbaye de Saint-Vivant is located above Curtil-Vergy as small village west of the Vosne-Romanée appellation – see map below. Walking distance from Curtil-Vergy to Vosne-Romanée is 9.6 km, taking the route used by the monks of the Abbaye de Saint-Vivant.
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A Vin Vif - fresh, energetic and with a light appearance
Thank you for this information, I had the opportunity to buy and taste of of these bottles and I was wondering if it was the well known DRC or another? Regarding the tasting, I do not remember to have been much impressed so I concluded that it was another DRC! I do not remember the vintage, may be DRC needs more time to harness this vineyard?
This is clearly not a Grand Cru vineyard located high above the other vineyards. It’s made by DRC to benefit the rebuilding of the Abbaye – and can hardly be expected to match the quality of the Montrachet of the Batard for that matter. I think its a lovely story about Aubert de Villaines efforts to rebuild the Vergy hill.
Picked up a bottle (shipping in cooler weather) of the 2013 from SommPicks. I will report back when I decide to open that little gem.
the 2007 is a special wine that is still very young. I made a note to myself to not try again until 2018.