2016 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti “Romanée-Saint-Vivant

Description

96    Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2016 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, picked on September 27–28 at 27hL/ha, has a heavenly, perfumed nose of blackberry, briar, wet limestone, incense and pressed iris flowers, displaying much more fruit intensity than the Corton alongside. There are subtle graphite notes that develop with aeration – the old-school pencil box, though it is never more than a fleeting suggestion. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and quite rounded in the mouth, and that graphite tincture builds toward the second half. I adore the energy and balletic poise of this Romanée-Saint-Vivant as it deftly fans out toward the finish, exerting grip, but with the softest of touches, and offering deceiving weight and depth. A wine that exudes panache and sophistication.” (2/2019)

94-96    Stephen Tanzer
“Bright, dark red. Aromas of dark fruits, spices, musky torrefaction and sappy minerality. Extremely concentrated, dense and pure, conveying a sensational thickness for its vintage but a much more relaxed, juicier character than the Echézeaux and Grands-Echézeaux. The explosive rising finish conveys terrific early sweetness, a sexy wild quality and superb spicy persistence. Here the yield was a near-normal 26 hectoliters per hectare as only the highest sections of this vineyard and the estate’s holding in Richebourg suffered any frost losses.” (1/2018)

95    Allen Meadows for Burghound
“A more restrained and cooler nose reflects super-fresh and floral-inflected aromas of exceptionally spicy red and dark currant, violet, plum and tea. There is a highly refined mouthfeel to the almost lacy yet concentrated middle weight flavors that possess first-rate complexity on the balanced and wonderfully persistent if youthfully austere finish. This crunchy effort is class in a glass with its emphasis on finesse which is quite different from the evident power and punch of the Corton. Textbook built-to-age RSV.” (1/2019)

95    Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru is super, bursting from the glass with a kaleidoscopic bouquet of potpourri, red berries, cassis, peony and rose petal. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and fine-boned, with tangy acids, superb concentration and an ample chassis of powdery structuring tannins, concluding with a long, fragrant finish. This is a Romanée-St-Vivant that exemplifies the intensity without the weight that distinguishes the Domaine’s best wines, and it equals the fabulous 2015 rendition.” (1/2019)