Domaine Romanee Conti has the enviable reputation of selling its wines for prices well in excess of other Domaines of a similar standard. The Domaine Romanee Conti Richebourg 1993 is an excellent example. That is if you can actually get a bottle or two of the stuff. Cases are only for the ultra rich retired banking fraternity. I would like to claim that I have tasted the 1993 but this would be inaccurate. I only wish I had. Thinking to myself; what is one supposed to do in these circumstances? Can one pretend? I am such a poor liar, my face goes red and I look and feel guilty. “I am sure they can tell” I keep saying to myself throughout the interrogative period. The truth is generally extracted from me, without further a do. So I now take the opposite tact and tell the listener quite emphatically I have not tasted this wine. Phew! That was a weight off my mind. You know my pallet is really quite good. It has given me much pleasure of the years and I really would like to treat it by tasting some of the best wines from the top vintages but alas my pocket cannot stretch to this. Being in the wine trade is a passion and I suppose if I had got a proper job then I would have been wealthier. I remind you of the old saying which is to make a small fortune in the wine trade you must start with a large one. My wife regularly reminds me of having friends who are vastly wealthier than me. I retort rather defensively that they may well not be happy. I have merchant banker mate who is both happy and wealthy so bang goes my idea. I am lucky enough to have prosperous clients. Several of whom are very generous and are good enough to invite me round when they crack open a bottle or two. I make good conversation and am reasonably well mannered, knife in the right hand and fork in the left; I can use a napkin and do not slobber, well not deliberately. Anyway for those of you who can afford such wines, your bottles are drinking now. They are in gorgeous condition, they have one careful owner who has cherished them and there only reason for selling is that they need the money. How terribly common!