Richebourg: Vineyards, Producers, Best Wines (2024)

Want to find out more about Richebourg wines before adding one to your collection?

Richebourg is one of the six grand cru vineyards located in the village of Vosne-Romanée in Côte de Nuits, Burgundy.

Despite being only 8 hectares in size, some of the best Burgundy winemakers own a piece of its exquisite terroir, including Domaine Romanee Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Meo Camuzet.

What makes Richebourg wines unique? Which of these Burgundian wine bottles is worth investing in?

This article will take you on a tour of this fantastic grand cru vineyard, it’s history, producers, and The Top Ten Wines from this appellation.

Plus, we’ll take a look at how you can Add A Richebourg Wine To Your Collection with ease.

A Quick Intro To Richebourg

The name Richebourg translates to “rich town” and is the second-largest grand cru in Vosne-Romanee.

It has 8 hectares under vine in Vosne-Romanee. The Richebourg vineyard is famous for its full-bodied Pinot Noir wines that exhibit earthy and fruity characteristics. Wines from this appellation carry the label of “Richebourg” or “Le Richebourg” followed by the Grand Cru designation.

These rich Richebourg wines also have excellent investment and aging potential.

Let’s take a look at the colorful history of this grand cru vineyard.

A Brief History Of The Richebourg Vineyard

The area around Richebourg has survived two centuries of hardships - the Austrian occupation, the Franco-Prussian war, phylloxera, two World Wars, and a global recession!

The Richebourg vineyard used to be two separate vineyards - Les Verroilles sous Richebourg and Les Richebourg. Joining the two together caused a heated debate as these vineyards had numerous differences in terroir.

Despite the odds, the vineyards were combined into one, and it was named Richebourg by the end of 1924.

In 1936, the Richebourg vineyard was named the first AOC Grand Cru vineyard in the region. During the 1900s, its popularity increased thanks to Henri Jayer and the outstanding wines from the Meo Camuzet plots.

Today the Richebourg Grand Cru vineyard is surrounded by other fabulous Burgundy vineyards, including La Romanee Conti, La Romanee, La Romanee Saint-Vivant, and other Premier Cru vineyards.

‍Let’s take a look at the fantastic terroir at the Richebourg vineyard.

The Terroir Of Richebourg

You can only compare the viticultural climate of Richebourg’s Grands Crus to a select few vineyards in the limestone escarpment of Cote d’Or.

The soil contains pebbly clay and sand that covers a hard limestone base. The gradient in the soft soil means that the vineyard is well-drained.

The vineyard’s easterly location also protects each vine from the cold westerly winds and lets them enjoy the early morning sun.

AOC Regulations In Richebourg

The Pinot Noir grape varietal is dominant in Richebourg. The AOC regulations of this appellation allow up to 15% of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris grape varietals in a blend. However, this seldom happens in Burgundy vineyards.

The AOC regulations also allow a base yield of 35 hectoliters per hectare and a minimum of 11.5% ABV.

The Major Producers of Richebourg Grand Cru

The Richebourg vineyard is split among 11 wine producers and negociants - and each manages to produce a unique Richebourg wine.

Let’s get to know some of them a bit more.

A. Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Domaine de la Romanee Conti, or DRC, is best known for its highly collectible wines. These wines are mostly made from Pinot Noir from 28 hectares of grand cru vineyards that include:

• Richebourg
• La Tache
• Romanée-Saint-Vivant
• Corton-Bressandes
• Corton Clos du Roi, Corton Renardes
• Échezeaux
• Grands Échezeaux

DRC owns two large sections in the Richebourg vineyard. One area is just north of La Romanee and Romanee Conti, and the second section is located further north.

Richebourg wines from Domaine de la Romanee Conti aren’t made to be drunk in their youth - a minimum of 20 years of bottle age is what it takes to get the true magic out of the wine!

B. Domaine Leroy

Domaine Leroy is another famed wine producer and negociant in the Burgundy region. They produce a range of Pinot Noir wines from some of the most iconic vineyards in the region.

Domaine Leroy has two plots in the Richebourg vineyard - the larger plot is located in the northern section, and the smaller plot is further south next to DRC’s plot.

Domaine Leroy Richebourgs have exhilarating flavors in its youth. As the wine ages, more mature notes of a classic Richebourg wine develops.

C. Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur

Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur produces a range of Pinot Noir-based wines from the region’s top vineyards, including Richebourg, Grands Échezeaux, Échezeaux, and Clos de Vougeot.

The Louis Gros estate also makes red and white Hautes Cotes de Nuits wine. Domaine Gros Frère also makes wines from several premier cru vineyards in Vosne-Romanée.

Their classic, balanced Richebourg vineyard wines are dry with earthy notes and spices.

D. Domaine Jean Grivot

Domaine Jean Grivot vineyards are mainly planted with Pinot Noir, except for a few Chardonnay rows used for their Bourgogne Blanc.

Grivot’s Richebourgs have a multidimensional palate that displays fruit flavors of red berries and baking spices. Their wines have a silky texture with a smokey minerality, bright acidity, and supple structuring tannins.

E. Domaine Anne Gros

Domaine Anne Gros owns parcels in Echezeaux, Clos Vougeot, and Richebourg. This Domaine also produces village-level Chambolle-Musigny, as well as Bourgogne wines.

Richebourg wines from Domaine Anne Gros are sought-after for their ripe red fruit flavors and fine tannins.

F. Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair

The Liger-Blair and Marey families have been in the wine industry for over a century, but they founded Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair in Richebourg in 2001.

Their masculine Richebourg wine bottles are dry, complex, and packed with fruit flavors. It is known to be powerful with layers of flavors and aromas.

G. Domaine Hudelot Noellat

Domaine Hudelot Noellat has roughly 10 hectares of vineyards. The highest tier Pinot Noir wines come from the grand cru vineyards in Richebourg and Romanee-Saint-Vivant.

Hudelot Noellat is probably the least expensive Richebourg and has robust flavors. It has intense tannin levels that will mellow with a few years of bottle age.

H. Domaine Meo Camuzet

Wines produced by Meo Camuzet come from a range of grand cru vineyards, including the Richebourg and Echezeaux appellation. The estate’s founder offered parts of his estate to various sharecroppers - among who was the iconic Burgundy producer Henri Jayer.

The Domaine Meo Camuzet Richebourg has layers of flavors that express the characteristics of the Richebourg terroir. This wine requires at least 10 years of cellaring for all the flavors to develop fully.

I. Other Richebourg Producers:

• Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret: This Burgundy wine estate makes fine Pinot Noir wines and has a small plot in the center of Richebourg.
• Lucien Le Moine: Lucien le Moine is a small negociant business in the Cote de Beaune region.
• Domaine du Clos Frantin: Domaine du Close Frantin owns the smallest plot in the Richebourg vineyard, at the top of the vineyard.

Now, are you ready to discover our ten favorite wines from this grand cru vineyard?

Top 10 Wines From The Richebourg Region (Including Tasting Notes And Prices)

Most wine bottles from the Richebourg vineyard are uniquely satisfying - and here’s our top-10 from this appellation.

1. 1985 Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru

Even though the production of Henri Jayer Richebourg ceased when he retired, there are still a few bottles of his irresistible wine in the market.

The 1985 vintage delivers aromas of licorice, cepes, dried flowers, wild strawberries, and forest floor. It has a medium-bodied palate with notes of sweet red berries and a seductive lingering finish.

Price of a 1985 Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $42,060

2. 2015 Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru

This Domaine Leroy vintage encapsulates the power of the grand cru vineyard. It has a bouquet of Asian spice, licorice, smoked duck, and ripe black fruits.

Its multidimensional palate is vibrant and full of energy, leading you to a lingering finish.

Price of a 2015 Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $11,673

3. 1971 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru

This 1971 DRC Romanee Conti has a powerful bouquet with earl grey, raspberry, and dark berry fruit aromas.

The medium-bodied palate has a pleasing acidity or a bright acidity and the typical Romanee Conti flavor profile of dried orange peel, Asian spice, black fruit, and ripe red fruit.

Price of a 1971 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $8,296

4. 1988 Meo-Camuzet Richebourg Grand Cru

This fantastic wine has intense aromas of red berries, ripe fruit, leather, humus, and musk.

On the palate, you will be tasting cherry, currant, plum, and spice flavors. It is a well-balanced wine with acidity that will sustain its flavor for many more years.

Price of a 1988 Meo-Camuzet Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $5,644

5. 2005 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg Grand Cru

The 2005 vintage from Domaine Jean Grivot has an alluring bouquet of nutmeg, ginger, Asian spice, sandalwood, black raspberry, and marrow.

With every sip of this gorgeous red wine, you will experience layers of baking spices, raw meat, wet stone, mineral salts, and dark berries.

Price of a 2005 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $2,429

6. 2005 Lucien Le Moine Richebourg Grand Cru

This stunning red wine has aromas of chocolate, smoked meat, creme de cassis, and roasted nuts.

The palate offers flavors of chocolate, dark berries, and minerals. This silky wine leads you to a subtle but persistent finish.

Price of a 2005 Lucien Le Moine Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $1,800

7. 1978 Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur Richebourg Grand Cru

This wine has lovely and complex aromas of coffee, aniseed, dried plum, and smoked meats.

It has a rich, textured palate, which is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The structure of this fine wine drives you to a long and powerful finish.

Price of a 1978 Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $1,760

8. 1993 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru

This magnificent Burgundian wine from Anne Gros displays immense aging potential.

On the nose, enjoy aromas of infused ripe fruit, dried flowers, and morello cherries. This is a medium-bodied wine with a palate that is the perfect combination of concentration and finesse.

Price of a 1993 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $1,547

9. 1999 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg Grand Cru

This vintage expresses the complexity of a Pinot Noir grape varietal from Burgundy. The bouquet of this dark ruby-colored wine has notes of red berries, spices, violets, and undergrowth.

It has a clean and powerful palate with fine tannins, which leads you to a delicate and sensual finish.

Price of a 1999 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $1,366

10. 2015 Albert Bichot Domaine du Clos Frantin Richebourg Grand Cru

This gorgeous red wine has notes of cassis, herbal tea, violet, rose, plum, and sandalwood on the nose.

There is an impressive power on the palate that displays a great volume and richness, and mineral flavors.

Price of a 2015 Albert Bichot Domaine du Clos Frantin Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: $1,096

Now let’s look at the investment potential of Richebourg wines.

Why You Should Invest In Wines From The Richebourg Region

When it comes to investing in Richebourg wines, you are spoiled for choice, with iconic producers like DRC, Meo Camuzet, and Domaine Leroy in the mix.

Let’s take DRC as an example. DRC only produces their Romanee Conti Richebourg in limited quantities (500 cases annually), and it is one of the most expensive red wine in the world.

The older DRC vintages are still performing well - the 1959 Domaine de la Romanee Conti saw a 46% increase from $4924 to $7208 in 6 months (Sep 2020 - Feb 2021.)

While Romanee Conti consistently outperforms its neighbors, we cannot resist the numbers from some of the other Richebourg producers as well:

• The 1998 Meo-Camuzet Richebourg Grand Cru surged by 44% from $2095 to $3022 in just a month (Jan 2021 - Feb 2021.)
• The 1981 Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru saw a 145% increase from $10,070 to $24,420 in 1.5 years (Sep 2019 - Feb 2021.)

And while the price of these wines keeps increasing, their performance at auctions is nothing short of stellar:

• At a Christie’s auction in 2012, 12 bottles of Domaine Leroy Richebourg sold for $36,750.
• Two cases of 1978 Henri Jayer Richebourg were sold for an astonishing $303,800 each at a Sotheby’s sale in 2016.

Needless to say, Richebourg wines will not disappoint any wine collector.

But, how do you get hold of a bottle of Richebourg wine for your collection? When is the best time to buy or sell one?

Luckily, we have a solution here so that you don’t have to grapple with these questions yourself!

When you work with a wine investment company like Vinovest, you’ll not only have access to all the fine wine you want, but you’ll also have Master Sommeliers help you build a high-performing wine portfolio.

Buy Richebourg Wines With Ease Via Vinovest

Vinovest is a world-class online wine investment company that helps you buy, store, and sell sought-after wines from across the globe.

How It Works

1. Sign up with Vinovest
2. Fill in a quick questionnaire to help Vinovest determine your wine investment style.
3. Top up your account with a $1,000 minimum.
4. Browse and buy the wines available for your investment style.

Sit back, relax, and watch your portfolio grow in real-time.  

Benefits Of Investing In Wine With Vinovest

Take a look at the fantastic benefits you could enjoy:

A. Best Prices

Vinovest sources wines directly from the top wineries and trusted global wine merchants in Bordeaux , Burgundy, and several other wine regions. This means you get the best wines without paying retailer markups or middleman fees.

B. Easy Buying, Selling, And Delivery

Vinovest designed their online AI-Driven platform to be so easy-to-use that you can buy and sell wines with just a few clicks of the mouse - from the comfort of your home.

Plus, Vinovest will deliver your wine to your home or a buyer when the time is right.

C. Optimal Storage and Security

Looking after your fine wine collection will no longer keep you up at night. Vinovest will store and protect them for you with 24/7 security in world-class storage facilities.

D. Provenance And Authenticity

Vinovest does all the work of tracking down the origins of your Bordeaux, Cote d'Or, or any other wine you are interested in to make sure it is the real deal - all before the money leaves your account.

E. Curated Portfolio

Working with the team at Vinovest is the easiest way to go from wine enthusiast to seasoned collector. Master Sommeliers and data scientists will help you choose the wines suited to your investment style.

F. Low Overall Costs

Vinovest charges a 2.5% annual fee (1.9% when your portfolio balance exceeds $50,000.) This low annual fee includes fraud detection, buying, and selling, storage, insurance, as well as the management of your portfolio.

G. Ownership

Every wine bottle you buy is 100% yours.