Romanee Conti : Aubert de Villaine elected Decanter Man of the Year

by Writing iDealwine
10 March 2010 at 11h01 am

The owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, one of the most famous vineyards in the world, was voted Decanter Man of The Year 2010 by the specialist journal eponymous.

C’est une petite révolution dans la hiérarchie des heureux élus puisque Aubert de Villaine est le premier producteur de vins de Bourgogne à recevoir ce prix depuis sa création. Modest, it seems that he also initially refused his reward, before changing his mind, to finally accept.

Co-owner of the family estate of Romanée-Conti with family Leroy, Aubert de Villaine has long hesitated before walking in the footsteps of his father. After studying law and literature, il s’est envolé pour New-York et a débuté sa carrière par l’importation de vins de Bourgogne. Fascinated by the wine, he also devoted himself to journalism and interviewed, inter alia, Robert Mondavi in 1966.

It was during this period that his father calls him by his side. He started as an apprentice to the field. Since that time, He has continued his dedication to, his passion and design at the Romanee-Conti, which continues to produce the greatest red wines the world.

Through this award, it is not only his skills that are rewarded, but also his involvement in the international wine world.

2009 : Nicolas Catena, Mendoza, Argentina
2008 : Christian Moueix, Petrus
2007 : Anthony Barton, Chateau Leoville-Barton
2006 : Marcel Guigal, Guigal
2005 : Ernst Loosen, Moselle
2004 : Brian Croser, Adelaide Hills
2003 : Jean-Michel Cazes, Chateau Lynch Bages
2002 : Miguel Torres, Penedès
2001 : Jean-Claude Rouzaud, Louis Roederer
2000 : Paul Draper, California
1999 : Jancis Robinson MW, London
1998 : Angelo Gaja, Piedmont, Barolo Sperss
1997 : Len Evans, Australia
1996 : Georg Riedel, Austria
1995 : Hugh Johnson, London
1994 : May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
1993 : Michael Broadbent, London
1992 : Andre Tchelistcheff, California
1991 : Jose Ignacio Domecq, Jerez
1990 : Emile Peynaud, French winemaker
1989 : Robert Mondavi, California, Opus One
1988 : Max Schubert, Australia
1987 : Alexis Lichine, Château Prieuré-Lichine
1986 : Marchese Piero Antinori, Florence, Solaia, Tignanello
1985 : Laura and Corinne Mentzelopoulos, Chateau Margaux
1984 : Serge Hochar, Lebanon, Chateau Musar

Source : Decanter

Learn more about the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Acquired by the Prince of Conti 1760, This vineyard 1,85 ha produces little more than 6000 bottles of wine per year and mythical exceptional. After the French Revolution, the Estate was declared a national, Romanee Conti counted many homeowners, including family-Duvault Blochet, who acquired several plots which the Task, Richebourg and Echezeaux. Today every bottle of Romanee Conti bears the double signature of Aubert de Villaine and Henry-Frederic Roch. Romanee Conti was the last vineyard in Burgundy to resist phylloxera, but, during World War II, lack of carbon disulfide resulted in its destruction 1945. For five years, of 1946 to 1951, no vintage was produced. The conditions of vinification and aging (maximum maturity of the fruit, very high selectivity, maximum precautions at every stage, aging in new wood) can produce an exceptional wine. Aromas and a wonderful complexity evoking the pink, the violet, spices, truffles and leather are in this sumptuous wine.

Le domaine de la Romanée-Conti produit les crus suivants :

Echezeaux Grand Cru
Great-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Task Grand Cru
Montrachet Grand Cru
Richebourg Grand Cru
Romanee-Conti Grand Cru
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru