The 2019 Romanee-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 cuvees 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. (NM)

Subtle wood influence can be found on the equally ripe, airy and gorgeously elegant nose of black cherry, cassis, exotic tea and an almost endless range of spice elements. There is unusually good volume and punch to the lavishly rich, even opulent, medium weight plus flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract on the highly energetic and very powerful finish. This is also quite firmly structured and 2019 is relatively big and muscular vintage for the RSV. With that said, I suspect that the hallmark finesse and refinement will eventually reveal themselves with extended time in bottle. I would add that I thought this was marvelous from barrel but it's even better now that it's in bottle.

This was in a difficult place to taste a year ago in barrel. Quite a full dark purple on the nose, the fruit is notably darker on the nose, with more power than detail at first sniff. Some blacker fruit alongside the crushed strawberry, builds beautifully across the palate, sensual certainly and I am sure the sense of refined detail I look for in Romanee St-Vivant will come later. Very light coffee notes as well. Strawberries strengthen on the nose. Quite firm tannins at the moment, but excellent length.

The 2019 Romanee-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-echezeaux, 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 Romanee-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 cuvees 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 Seguin 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. (William Kelley)