Romanee St. Vivant 2021 Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Classification	Cru Classe
Type	Red
Brand	Domaine de la Romanee Conti
Vintage	2021
Country	France
Region	Burgundy, Cotes de Nuits
Grape	Pinot Noir
Volume	0,75
Condition	Perfect
Label	Perfect, Bottle number digitally removed
Drinkable	2030-2065
Stock	1

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (96)

The 2021 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru is intense and perfumed, soaring from the glass with scents of dark berries, rose petals, orange rind, aromatic bark and coniferous forest. Full-bodied, deep and unctuously textural, with a richly layered core of fruit, it's vibrant and penetrating, concluding with an intensely saline finish that marks it out as the closest relative in the range of the Romanée-Conti itself.

Jancis Robinson (18.50)

Betrand de Villaine describes this as a 'very traditional Romanée-St-Vivant' and as 'incisive'. Part of the vineyard (20 rows), planted on 161-49 rootstock, has been grubbed up because the vines were showing signs of decline and dieback. (Co-director Perrine Fenal pointed out that this is a high-quality rootstock but is now impossible to get hold of.) As a result, he says, the wine is getting better and better though it will take 15 years to see the influence of the new plantings. Vines on average 45 years old. Total production 755 cases of 12. Bottled 12 January 2023.
Mid to light ruby. Glorious scent that has the sweet perfume of the Corton as well as the darker and more savoury, lightly stemmy notes of the Grands Échezeaux. Lifted and scented with peony and the merest hint of oak spice. Very tight on the palate, more apparent acidity than in the Échezeaux, the tannins as always so fine but more clenched here, clenching the fruit at the core. Less open yet with the same transparency and purity as all these 2021 wines. The power is felt in the long finish. (JH)

Vinous (95)

The 2021 Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru is a big step up in this tasting. Unlike the Echézeaux and the Grands Echézeaux, the RSV possesses notable textural depth and resonance, albeit in the smaller-scaled style of the year. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, citrus and cedar fill out the layers effortlessly. The stems are evident, but beautifully woven into the wine's fabric. Traditionally, La Tâche and Romanée-Conti garner the most attention here, but in 2021 Romanée St. Vivant is clearly the most expressive wine, at least today. I would be thrilled to own it.

Jasper Morris (95)

Similar in colour to the Grands Echezeaux. Quite discreet, a little bit herbaceous, the aromatics suggesting less body but more lift than the previous wine. The bouquet is growing slowly but steadily, showing a little more density behind. The palate shows the harmony, while ultimately the red berries, alpine strawberries plus a touch of raspberry, deliver energy. Still a touch of youthful bitterness, perhaps stem related, that in no way denigrates the potential quality over the longer term – indeed, it will doubtless enhance the complexity. The 2021 Romanée St-Vivant finishes on the vanilla of the oak, and on the rose petals, with a very silky finish to complete the wine. Drink from 2030-2040.