The 2020 Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru is one of the most surprising wines in this lineup. In many ways, the RSV is the quintessential wine at DRC in 2020, as it captures all the qualities that make this vintage so appealing. Sage, mint, blood orange, chalk and red-toned fruit are all lifted by bright saline notes that lend energy and drive from start to finish. A Burgundy of dynamic energy and precision, the 2020 RSV is quite simply dazzling. 97+

Romanee-St.-Vivant is austere in aroma, hinting at blackberry and black currant flavors aligned to a compact frame. There is tension and finesse, with a cool, reserved feel, yet fine overall harmony.

Note: from an incredible 5.29 ha holding A markedly more floral-suffused nose reflects ripe and very fresh notes of lavender, lilac, rose petal and violet on the aromas of both red and dark currant, anise, sandalwood and jasmine tea. There is excellent mid-palate density to surprisingly big-bodied and powerful flavors that conclude in a dusty, youthfully austere and impressively long finish that is shaped by dense but fine-grained tannins. This moderately austere effort is wonderfully classy and exceptionally stylish and is a RSV that should also age gracefully for years.

As it was from barrel, the 2020 Romanee-St-Vivant is strikingly bright and fresh, showing now a lovely red currant and pomegranate fruit with spice and hints of black liquorice, along with well-integrated oak aromas. The texture is silky and shows great finesse; while it is pleasantly accessible, it is decidedly a lighter style, but not lacking length or substance. This is the wine to drink while you are waiting for the others to come around, yet is should age gracefully. The 5.29 hectare holding here was picked August 26 – 27 to produce 20,611 bottles. (Charles Curtis MW)