-
97
/ 100
Tim Atkin MW -
96
/ 100
Neal Martin -
95
/ 100
Allen Meadows
Red
Classification
Pinot Noir
Variety
2018
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
France
Country
Burgundy, Romanee-Saint-Vivant
Region
13.5%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
97 / 100"Romanée-St-Vivant went through malolactic later than the other DRC Grands Crus and was a little more backward and reductive when I tasted it from barrel. Fermented with 90% whole clusters and aged in new wood, it's paler than its stablemates, with refined red berry fruits, focused, mineral-edged acidity and a racy, chalky finish. Transparent winemaking from a site that often produces the domaine's most elegant wine. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038."
- Tim Atkin MW
96 / 100
"The 2018 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has a detailed bouquet of dark cherries, blueberry and pressed iris, an undertow of sea spray and petrichor emerging with time. Less floral than previous vintages, it is nevertheless extremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied and you are immediately struck by the harmony of this wine. Elegant and discreetly spiced toward the finish. I would just like to see more persistence manifest during the remainder of its élevage."
- Neal Martin
95 / 100
"Here the nose is brooding to the point of being almost mute and requires aggressive swirling to gradually reveal plum liqueur, purple fruit and a variety of subtle spice and floral wisps. There is terrific punch and detail to the middle weight flavors that aren't quite as concentrated or muscular as those of the Grands Echézeaux yet there is still impressive power on the wonderfully long finish. This is somewhat less refined than it usually is, and not quite as spicy either, though by contrast it is more tannic and a wine that also should develop slowly over the next 25 to 30 years. I found the 2018 to be almost atypical in the sense that it's much more powerful and imposing than usual and it doesn't have the refinement either though that may well come with time in bottle. Patience strongly advised."
- Allen Meadows
Tasting Notes
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), one of the most prestigious estates in Burgundy, has a history dating back to the 13th century. Acquired by the Prince of Conti in 1760 and renamed after him, the estate became a symbol of excellence in Pinot Noir. Since 1869, it has been co-owned by the de Villaine and Leroy families, producing some of the world’s most sought-after wines, including Romanée-St.-Vivant. Known for its biodynamic farming and meticulous craftsmanship, DRC wines are prized for their elegance, complexity, and rarity.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity