2020 DRC Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cuvée Duvault-Blochet

Context

There’s something about ordering a DRC off a restaurant wine list—especially when it’s on an island. This bottle was pulled and decanted at Hotel Wailea in Maui, one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. The ocean breeze, the volcanic soil underfoot, and the pristine setting only heightened the sense of occasion.

Wine Information

• Producer: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

• Vintage: 2020

• Classification: Premier Cru (labeled Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru)

• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Vineyard Sources (2020):

  • Primarily from La Tâche

• Farming: Organic (certified), biodynamic principles, horse-plowed

• Winemaking: Native yeast, minimal intervention, 100% new oak

• Production: Estimated ~4,500 bottles

• Alcohol: 13.5%

Vintage Overview – 2020 in Vosne

2020 was the earliest harvest in modern Burgundy history—but paradoxically, not the hottest. It began with a warm, dry winter, followed by a rapid and early budbreak. April and May saw very little rain, which laid the foundation for small berries and low yields. Summer temperatures were warm but not extreme. The key difference from 2003 or 2015? Cool nights and an early picking window preserved freshness.

• Harvest Start: August 19 at DRC, among the earliest ever

• Yields: Significantly reduced due to drought and small berry size

• Acid Balance: Excellent, with pH levels surprisingly low despite ripeness

• Stylistic Profile: Concentrated, precise, and structured—less flamboyant than 2019, more tightly coiled than 2018

At DRC, the timing of the pick was critical. They aimed to capture tension without sacrificing ripeness, and across the range—especially in this Duvault-Blochet—the result was balance. Not a blockbuster, but a sculptor’s vintage: deliberate, shaped, and quietly assertive.

Winemaker Profile

While Aubert de Villaine remained the symbolic heart of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti through 2020, day-to-day technical winemaking had long been in the hands of a newer generation. That year marked a pivotal moment in the quiet succession that had been underway for years.

Alexandre Bernier, who joined the Domaine in 2008, had risen to become cellar master and head of vinification. Trained under Bernard Noblet—DRC’s long-serving winemaker from 1986 to 2017—Bernier is known for his precision, restraint, and deep respect for the character of each terroir. He brings a scientific rigor to the role, but with the soul of a traditionalist. His touch is lighter than Noblet’s; extraction is gentler, fermentation temperatures are carefully moderated, and the wines today seem to speak even more clearly of place.

Working alongside him is Nicolas Jacob, estate manager and vineyard lead, who was previously with Domaine Comte Armand. Jacob has overseen DRC’s organic and biodynamic viticulture since his arrival in 2018, helping to refine vineyard practices across the Domaine’s holdings. Under his guidance, there’s been increased precision in soil health, canopy management, and pruning—efforts that particularly benefit the young vines used in Duvault-Blochet.

The Duvault-Blochet cuvée itself occupies a unique place in their process. Though technically a blend of younger and non-selected barrels, it is not treated as a second wine. Fermented in the same custom oak vats, aged in 100% new Francois Frères barrels, and bottled with the same fanatical quality control as the Grand Crus. Nothing about it is downgraded—only differentiated.

And with some of the young La Tâche vines now approaching 25 years old, the character of this wine is evolving. What was once a cuvée of juvenile energy is becoming something more composed, more classical. In 2020 especially, you can feel the shift—a wine that is no longer just a glimpse into the future of the Domaine, but a full expression of its present.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance:

  • Brilliant medium ruby

  • Translucent core with a pinkish meniscus

• Nose:

  • Immediate red-fruited lift: raspberry, wild strawberry, red cherry

  • Floral tones: dried rose petal, violet, and blood orange zest

  • Spiced nuance: clove, pink peppercorn, star anise

  • Subtle earthy undercurrent: crushed rock, iron shavings, forest moss

• Palate:

  • Core of tart red fruit—cranberry skin, pomegranate, wild cherry

  • Integrated spice: cinnamon, cedar, and faint black tea

  • Sleek tannins—ultra-fine, chalky, and tensile

• Finish:

  • Long and mineral—fades with notes of rose, Vosne spice, and earth

  • Lingers on dried florals and saline tension

Market Commentary

Historically the “entry-level” DRC, Duvault-Blochet is no longer a secret. As Grand Cru prices ascend into the stratosphere, this cuvée is increasingly treated as a collectible. US release pricing for the 2020 landed around $2,000/bottle—but secondary market demand has quickly outpaced supply. Available bottles are now north of $3,000, due to the young La Tâche DNA as well as the tiny yields at 18.8 hL/Ha

Wolf Call: Cautious Buy

Even after a sharp jump—now trading at approximately 50% above its release price—the 2020 DRC Duvault-Blochet remains a relative value compared to 2020 La Tâche, to which it shares both DNA and stylistic ambition. That said, the rapid price appreciation post-release has likely priced in most of the near-term upside. If you already own this bottle, the smart move is to hold and cellar it. The wine’s structure and purity suggest it will evolve beautifully over the next 10–15 years. However, from an investment perspective, don’t expect much more lift from here. The market has already re-rated it aggressively. Buy only if you intend to drink.