DRC Romanee St Vivant 2015 (750ML)

97 DE / 96 BH / 95 WA / 18.5 JR

This is showing plenty of promise and perfume on the nose, with a generous violet fragrance. It is superbly fruited, with sweet, ripe red cherry, savoury cola, minerals and spice all subtly and sensually combined. The satin-textured tannins have deceptive levels of grip. Every element of this wine is exquisitely refined and integrated - the fruit builds to a mouthfilling crescendo on the mid-palate, aided and abetted by fine acidity. Very graceful, precise and compelling. Harvested 9th to 11th September at 26.26hl/ha. Bottled from 21st to 24th February 2017. 1,398 cases produced. - John Stimpfig, Decanter

Tasting note: 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. Allen Meadows - Burghound

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. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

Relatively subtle nose. Upright and less marked by the exuberance of the vintage than the Échezeaux. Very much RSV. Dry finish and very firm with a super-ripe undertow but definitely RSV. The young-vines (12 years old) portion is starting to bring something to the wine, made from seven or eight different parcels. Impressive, concentrated but subtle. - Jancis Robinson