Domaine de la Romanée Conti Romanée St Vivant Grand Cru

2014

Burghound 95: A deft but not invisible application of wood sets off the airy, cool and strikingly elegant nose that is composed by notes of both red and dark currant, a wide range of floral and spice elements as well as Asian-style tea scents. The refined and caressing middle weight flavors possess a sleek and cool mouth feel while retaining good definition on the firm but well-balanced and sneaky long finish that exhibits a bit less finesse than usual even if it is still quite fine.

Wine Advocate 95: The 2014 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on 21, 22 and 23 September cropped at 31.6 hectoliters per hectare. Now this has a distinctly earthy bouquet, one that leads you into the dark woods. Yes, there is plenty of vivacious red berry fruit, here augmented with something autumnal, brown leaves on an October morning, moss and tree bark. Then with continued aeration, these shift away and are replaced by pure floral aromas. The palate is very precise on the entry with a touch of orange rind and mandarin complementing the crushed strawberry and raspberry fruit; there is a touch of spiciness towards the finish that exerts a gentle, yet insistent grip à la Richebourg. The persistence here is very impressive and it just seems to blossom in the glass until you have utterly succumbed to its charms. 1,756 cases produced.

Vinous 94+: Bright, full red. Restrained but very pure perfume of dark raspberry, black cherry, menthol, licorice and black pepper. Dense, silky and suave on entry, conveying a sexy sweetness to its juicy dark fruit, mineral and spice flavors. This wine struck me as comparatively feminine in style, but not for long, as it quickly went into a shell in the glass. Finishes very long, with firm-edged tannins, noteworthy saline complexity and superb precision. Bertrand de Villaine described this wine as "a bit chaotic" in the early going.

Decanter 96: Delicious savoury notes as well as some red fruit and candied citrus peel. An extremely polished texture and a spicy finish. A wine of great class and harmony that is often overlooked because this legendary estate has so many stars in its stable.

2015

Burghound 96: This is more restrained still though aggressive swirling eventually coaxes the gorgeously broad-ranging nose to reveal an even more floral and spicier mélange of red and dark currant, Asian-style tea, anise, clove, cinnamon and sandalwood scents. The equally pure, naturally sweet, precise and beautifully detailed medium-bodied flavors maintain their focus from the mid-palate to the dazzlingly long and palate staining linear finish that just goes on and on. However, as silky as the palate impression is, there is plenty of supporting structure and this too is going to require a long snooze in a cold cellar before it will be completely ready for prime time. Textbook RSV.

Wine Advocate 95: The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2015 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru was showing superbly from bottle, bursting from the glass with a dramatic and expressive bouquet of rose petal, violet, raspberry and spicy red cherry that has already digested its framing of new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, expansive and supple, its frame of fine-grained tannins cloaked in a deep core of vibrant fruit and only asserting themselves on the long, penetrating finish. This is a superb Romanée-St-Vivant that nips on the heels of the fabulous Richebourg this year. Cropped at 26 hectoliters per hectare and harvested September 9, 10 and 11.

Decanter 100: Produced from seriously old vines with an average age of 56 years, DRC’s headline act does not remotely disappoint. Aromatic fireworks of ripe red and black fruits, toast, spice and a note of decadent perfume lead into a complex palate showing pristine flavours of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, spice, cream and minerals that saturate your taste buds. It is lavishly upholstered by sweet, dense filigree tannins and buoyed by fine acidity - the opulent texture and presence of this wine is beyond remarkable. Already, it is open, profoundly expressive and accessible, however its concentration, acidity and structure will carry it through for decades to come. Arguably the ultimate terroir wine, this 2015 is also the epitome of truly great Pinot Noir. Harvested on 10th September with a yield of 22.65hl/ha. Bottled 22nd March 2017. 403 cases produced.