Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant 2019

Wine Advocate Parker:

The 2019 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru wafts from the glass with breathtaking aromas of raspberries and strawberries mingled with bergamot, Indian spices, peonies and rose petals. Full-bodied, vibrant and perfumed, it's finer boned than the more muscular Grands-Échézeaux, with a bright spine of acidity and beautifully refined tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Striking for its purity and elegance, my handwritten notes include the phrase "pure sensuality." This was a particularly memorable tasting at the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Revisiting the bottled 2019s was thrilling, as these are some of the most sensual, dramatic young wines I've ever tasted at this address; and the young 2020s, tasted from barrel (with the exception of several cuvées that had been recently racked), show immense potential too. A few small evolutions have been made in the cellars in the last few years, with Tonnellerie La Grange increasingly in evidence alongside historically dominant François Frères on the red side of the ledger, and barrels from Séguin Morey, Damy and Taransaud to be found in the new room devoted to the domaine's white wines. Bottling is also a touch earlier than in the past.

Decanter:

The Romanée-Saint-Vivant was shown after the Richebourg, which was not always the case. The domaine farms 5.29 hectares here, the former holding of the Marey-Monge family that they had leased since 1966. Since its purchase in 1988, it has been partly replanted, but only the old vine fruit is used here. The wine has a darker, plummy fruit character as compared to the Richebourg and a grippy, substantial feel with more tannic strength and an impressively lingering finish. It seems if anything to have gained in substance and depth since tasted in barrel. Drinking Window 2025 - 2065.

Vinous:

The 2019 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on 20 and 21 of September at 18hL/ha and contains slightly less whole bunch than the Domaine's other cuvées this year. It has a whip-cracking bouquet, one that just stops you in your tracks. Red cherries, freshly picked raspberries, wilted rose petal and very light loamy scents soar from the glass. No wonder this is poured after the Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, stunningly vibrant red berry fruit, hints of tobacco and graphite that percolate through with time in the glass. It fans out gloriously towards the finish. Awesome length. What distinguishes this from the Richebourg is the tension throughout from start to finish. Heavenly. 1,351 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London.