2018 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee St. Vivant [D97][V94-96][BH97]

Producer: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 
Region: Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France 
Varietal: Pinot Noir 
Year: 2018   

Decanter, 97 Points 

"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." 

Vinous, 94-96 Points 

"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." 

Burghound, 95 Points 

"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." 

Alcohol: 13.5% 

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