1996 Vosne-Romanee – Laboure – Roi

1 Bottle
1996 Vosne-Romanee – Laboure – Roi

This exceptional cru is one of the Vosne-Romanée’s six grands crus.  The 1996 Vosne-Romanee – Laboure – Roi  is part of Romanée-Conti’s famous 12-bottle assorted case. The vines are located in chalk soils with a significant amount of clay and are subject to the utmost care. Of course the harvests are undertaken by hand, and the grapes are sorted at every stage. The vinification respects tradition in using only indigenous yeasts, for example. This wine stands out for its bright colour, a deep shade of ruby. The aromas, intensely fruity, bring a concentration of black cherry, raspberry and blackberry syrup. Vegetal notes blend in with this rich and distinguished ensemble. After a long ageing process, there is a finesse that marks this cru with exceptional quality.

One of Auxey’s eight premiers crus vineyards, Les Duresses is so highly thought of by the locals that in 1924 the former Auxey-le-Grand renamed itself after the wine. Villages up and down the Côte d’Or renamed themselves–common practice in Burgundy in the 1800s–to bask in the reflected glory of their most famous vineyards. It began in 1847 when by royal decree of Louis-Philippe the unadorned Gevrey-en-Montagne became bejeweled: Gevrey-Chambertin. After that came Aloxe-Corton (1862), Vosne-Romanée (1866), Chambolle-Musigny (1878), Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet (both in 1879) and Nuits-St.-Georges (1892).

More expensive, but still within the realm of reason, are the premiers crus. Premiers crus from some villages (Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin) cost more than those from other villages (Auxey-Duresses, Santenay). But generally, a good premier cru will cost between $20 and $40 a bottle. Most Burgundy fanciers stick with premiers crus, partly for economy’s sake, but also because they know that the more you learn the intricacies of Burgundy, the more you discover premiers crus that–in the hands of the right producer–are just a fraction less impressive than grands crus–at half the cost.

The 1996 Labouré-Roi Vosne-Romanée is a red wine from the Vosne-Romanée appellation in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, France.

Labouré-Roi is a winery with a facility in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and it is known for producing a range of Burgundy wines.

Vosne-Romanée is renowned for producing some of the world’s most prestigious and sought-after Pinot Noir wines, and the wines from this village are celebrated for their depth, elegance, and complexity.

The 1996 vintage from Labouré-Roi would be expected to display characteristics typical of the region, which can include refined nuances of black currant, red fruit, earth, spice, and floral aromatics.

The specific vineyard or lieu-dit from which the 1996 Labouré-Roi Vosne-Romanée originates is not mentioned in the search results, but Vosne-Romanée wines are generally known for their quality and ability to age well. The wine is made from the Pinot Noir grape variety, which is the primary red grape of Burgundy.

While there are no detailed tasting notes or ratings provided for this specific wine in the search results, a well-made Vosne-Romanée from a reputable producer like Labouré-Roi and a good vintage such as 1996 would likely offer a drinking experience that aligns with the typical profile of the appellation. The wine would be over 25 years old, which suggests that it could have developed a range of secondary and tertiary flavors, adding to its complexity.

The average price or value of the 1996 Labouré-Roi Vosne-Romanée is not provided in the search results, but wines from this appellation can vary widely in price depending on the producer, specific vineyard site, and the condition of the bottle.