1993 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux

Tasting Context

This bottle was opened as part of a 1990’s Vosne-Romanée dinner that featured:

• 1993 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux

• 1999 Emmanuel Rouget Cros Parantoux

• 1996 Emmanuel Rouget Échézeaux

• 1999 DRC Richebourg

Initially, the DRC held court—flawless cork, expressive fruit, elegant texture. The Jayer, by contrast, showed a bit of VA on the nose. But over the next six hours, it evolved dramatically—losing its initial edge and steadily building complexity. By the end of the evening, the consensus was clear: the 1993 Jayer Cros Parantoux was the most complete wine on the table, edging past even the Richebourg.

Wine Information

• Producer: Henri Jayer

• Appellation: Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

• Climat: Cros Parantoux (approx. 0.72 ha)

• Vintage: 1993

• Vinification: 100% destemmed, cold pre-fermentation maceration, 100% light toast new oak

• Estimated Production: ~3,000 bottles

Vintage Overview – 1993

A structured vintage with firm acidity and excellent balance, 1993 in the Côte de Nuits has proven one of the most cellar-worthy of the decade. Low disease pressure and a relatively cool summer yielded wines with high aromatic precision, pronounced minerality, and moderate alcohol.

Compared to 1996, the 1993s have better phenolic ripeness and more integrated acidity. While 1996s can show green edges and occasionally spiky structure, the best 1993s—like this Jayer—are more harmonious and complete at this stage.

Against 1999, a more powerful and broadly hyped vintage, 1993 shows less immediate density but more transparency. Where 1999s often lead with volume and richness, 1993s deliver nuance, finesse, and a sense of restraint that continues to evolve with time.

For Jayer, whose approach emphasized balance, destemming, and vineyard expression over extraction, 1993 may be one of the final vintages where his philosophy and the vintage conditions aligned perfectly.

Winemaker Profile – Henri Jayer

If there's a single name that shaped modern Burgundy, it’s Jayer. Born in 1922 and raised in Vosne-Romanée, he trained as an oenologist in Dijon before gradually building his own reputation through parcels leased and farmed under métayage.

Jayer's philosophy was grounded in low yields, total destemming, and vineyard-first winemaking. He famously elevated Cros Parantoux—a rocky, frost-prone vineyard that others had avoided—and proved it could rival Grand Cru terroirs when farmed and vinified with intent. His refusal to compromise on quality, and his small production volumes, eventually turned his wines into cult benchmarks. He bottled his final vintage in 2001.

Tasting Notes

Nose:

• Opened with volatile acidity—balsamic lift and sharp red cherry skin

• Within an hour: softened into dried rose, cherry pit, and Chinese five-spice

• Later evolution: iron, sandalwood, and sous bois emerged with clarity

Palate:

• Medium-bodied with a finely woven tannin structure

• Core of red currant, crushed raspberry, and dried blood orange peel

• Mineral expression builds with time; subtle tertiary character surfaces in the final hours

Finish:

• Persistent but not forceful

• Leaves a lasting impression of salinity, iron, and red fruit

Overall Impression:
A wine that needed time—not just in the cellar, but in the glass. The initial volatility subsided to reveal a wine of balance, aromatic clarity, and structural finesse. It never sought to impress with scale, but won over the table through its coherence and quiet persistence.

Comparative Notes

• The 1999 Rouget Cros Parantoux showed more fruit density but less precision. Texturally softer, and more giving, but without the same mineral depth.

• The 1996 Rouget Échézeaux was linear, still youthful, but slightly muted aromatically.

• The 1999 DRC Richebourg was the early favorite—broader on the palate and more immediately impressive—but began to plateau after the third hour.

• I plan to revisit the 1999 Rouget Cros and 1999 Richebourg in future deep-dives.

Cellar Recommendation

Status: Mature

Ideal Drinking Window: Now through 2032

Decanting: Necessary—2+ hours or double decanting recommended.

Market Commentary

Upon release, the 1993 Cros Parantoux retailed for around $300–400 USD. Today, well-provenanced bottles trade in the $25,000–35,000 range, with auction highs pushing even further.

It’s among the most counterfeited wines in Burgundy, so provenance is everything. Bottles with documented history, especially direct-from-cellar, command the strongest premiums.

From a price standpoint, this wine is likely at its peak value. Buy to drink—not to resell.

Wolf Call

This isn’t a wine I plan to purchase again—not at five figures, and not with so few bottles left in the wild that haven’t been passed around or faked. But this bottle delivered. There’s a reason Jayer’s name still echoes across every serious Burgundy conversation, and this bottle proves it.

Not a buy. But if you’re lucky enough to be at the table when one opens—clear your glass.