Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92+)

Medium red. Wild, musky aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, mocha and coffee. Thick and dense but shapely, with good energy to the dark fruit, mineral and bitter chocolate flavors. At once large-scaled and confectionery for young RSV, this wine really calls for six to eight years of cellaring.

Burghound (95)

This is also notably floral in character with a panoply of spice elements that add both depth and breadth to the cool cherry, raspberry and red currant aromas. As was the case with the Beaux Monts there is a spicy inner mouth perfume to the delicious and classy middle weight flavors that are shaped by sophisticated and very fine tannins, all wrapped in a mouth coating, focused and seriously persistent finish. A classic RSV.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The crown jewel is the 2012 Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru that comes from the 0.50-hectare slither planted in 1922. It already boasts an enticing bouquet laden with luscious dark cherry and creme de cassis fruit, stupendous mineralite and exotic touches of blood orange and marmalade. The palate is silky smooth with razor-sharp tannins, once again superb mineralite and a sleek, sensual, quite piercing sorbet-fresh finish that lingers in the mouth much longer than the Clos de Vougeot. This is a sophisticated, modern take on the grand cru, one with panache and oozing class.

Vinous (96)

The 2016 Romanée Saint Vivant Grand Cru has a beautifully defined bouquet. The fruit is darker than its peers: blackberry, boysenberry, hints of blueberry and crushed violet petals. This is quintessential Romanée-Saint-Vivant. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and perfectly judged acidity. This is endowed with disarming structure and poise, fanning out beautifully towards the finish. A fabulous wine but it deserves a decade in the cellar. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. (DIAM 10 closure)

Decanter (96)

Planted way back in 1926, this 0.5ha parcel is always the most complex wine at the domaine. Violet and aniseed scents segue into a palate that's smooth, glossy and textured with bramble and black cherry fruit, some chalky undertones, stylish oak and subtle reduction. Supple, refined winemaking with appealing underlying precision and freshness. One of the best examples of the Grand Cru in 2018.

Decanter (96)

Planted way back in 1926, this 0.5ha parcel is always the most complex wine at the domaine. Violet and aniseed scents segue into a palate that's smooth, glossy and textured with bramble and black cherry fruit, some chalky undertones, stylish oak and subtle reduction. Supple, refined winemaking with appealing underlying precision and freshness. One of the best examples of the Grand Cru in 2018.

Vinous (96)

(100% vendange entier): Bright, dark red. Very ripe but rather brooding aromas of blueberry, licorice, violet and tropical dark chocolate. Then wonderfully perfumed and precise in the mouth, conveying an impression of thickness and inner-mouth tension without weight. The stems provide another dimension without dominating the wine's fruits and flowers. A spectacular example of 2015, not yet fleshy but very dense and seductively sweet. The bracing, mounting finish goes on and on. This wine will need many years of cellaring to unfold and yet it's easier to taste today than its 2016 sibling, as are most of these '15s.

Vinous (95-97)

The 2019 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru comprises 40% whole bunch and 25% new oak because winemaker Géraldine Godot wanted less wood influence during élevage. That was an astute decision, because it renders a very seductive, pure and engaging bouquet of copious red cherries, kirsch and blueberry fruit laced with pressed violets that is très R.S.V. The palate is medium-bodied with a sensual, velvety-smooth entry, a mixture of red and black fruit and impressive volume, but it also delivers the luxuriant elegance you expect from this Grand Cru. Fans out wonderfully on the finish. Just a gorgeous, sensual Grand Cru.

Vinous (95-97)

The 2020 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru is beautiful on the nose with harmonious, very pure dark cherries, violet and peony, blackcurrants and touches of rosemary. You could just inhale this all day. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, fine acidity, taut and fresh with just the right amount of spice towards the finish. So much energy here, this will be difficult to resist in its youth.

Jancis Robinson (17.5++)

25 ares (0.6 acres), and just 4 barrels. From vines aged 40–45 years, purchased by AXA in 1991. Pale cherry. Vibrant floral nose – roses, peony, light red cherries, dense strawberry; lots of perfume. Huge charm and elegance, but concentrated, too. Bravo, wonderful – especially at 11.45 am!

Burghound (92)

This is a very understated wine with elegant, pure and extremely pretty spicy red fruit aromas followed by supple yet precise and focused middle weight flavors highlighted by a sappy, intense and persistent finish. Modern day Latour reds can often be on the light side but this offers solid concentration and more overall depth than usual. In short, this is lovely stuff.

Wine Spectator (92)

An expressive, fluid red, with cherry, raspberry, spice and mineral flavors riding the vibrant structure to a lingering conclusion. The tannins show up on the finish but are buffered by sweet fruit. Best from 2016 through 2030. 366 cases made. -BS

James Suckling (95)

A beautiful and sexy red with blueberry and blackberry character. Hints of coffee and spices. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Very fine and pretty. Delicious now, but there's plenty of backbone and structure for the future. Powerful underneath it all. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

Aromas of raspberries, exotic spices, dried flowers and candied peel preface the 2017 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, a full-bodied, ample wine that's broader shouldered and more structured than even Latour's Chambertin, with a deep, layered core of juicy balancing acids, concluding with a long finish. It's a definite success.

James Suckling (100)

This is like staring into an abyss, but being overwhelmed with joy. The essence of fine pinot noir and of Burgundy, which you don’t need to be any kind of expert to appreciate. Enormously concentrated, but so graceful, this makes you want to forget everything else you are supposed to be doing. Lean back and let yourself be overwhelmed. Drink or hold.

Indulge in the exquisite Pierre Girardin Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2018, a product of exceptional and meticulous winemaking from Burgundy's Côte de Nuits region, France. As a 13th generation viticulturist, Pierre Girardin produces this superb wine in limited quantities, marrying tradition with modern techniques. Grapes are hand-selected from 65-year old vines, ensuring each bottle embodies the unique terroir of Romanée-Saint-Vivant. The wine is aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, contributing to complexity and structure.

The Pierre Girardin Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2018 presents a silky texture and vibrant minerality, with refined notes of red fruit, rose petals, and aromatic spices. Longevity is a hallmark of this grand cru, its beguiling layers revealing themselves gradually through years of cellaring. Revel in the subtle nuances and rich pedigree of this distinguished wine, a triumphant testament to the masterful craftmanship of Pierre Girardin.

Immerse your senses in luxury with the Pierre Girardin Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2019, a testament to the art of elegant winemaking. For five generations, the Girardin family has been cultivating exquisite wines in the Burgundy region of France, imparting centuries of expertise in every bottle. The Pierre Girardin Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2019 is produced with precision and passion, exclusively using Pinot Noir grapes from the historic Romanee-Saint-Vivant vineyard.

Following the gentlest of pressings, the grape juice ferments naturally in French oak barrels, creating a wine of unparalleled complexity and depth. The result is a bouquet of vibrant red fruit, subtly balanced with hints of spice and a long, pleasant finish. This exquisite bottle offers both intensity and harmony, encapsulating the dedication to quality that defines Pierre Girardin. A worthy addition to any collection, the Pierre Girardin Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2019 secures its place within the echelons of esteemed Burgundy wines.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Barrel sample. Deep crimson. Intense, dark fruit that puts the oak into the background. Terrific intensity on the palate, dark, savoury, charry but not at all over-oaked. Elegant tannins, extremely fine and deliciously dry. Immense length and refinement.

Vinous (93-96)

Good full medium red. Slightly reduced nose offers sexy scents of dark cherry, cocoa powder, flowers and summer garrigue. Sweet, silky and fine-grained, with superb lift to its fruit and mineral flavors. This coats the palate in a completely different way from the previous samples. Finishes very long, with noble tannins and lovely finesse. Cathiard does look for big extraction here.

Vinous (93-96)

Good full red. Superripe, musky aromas of strawberry liqueur, roasted meat and smoky, stony minerality. Like a liquid confection in the mouth; thick and highly concentrated yet somehow lively and delineated, with terrific minerality and verve to its explosive flavors of sappy crushed berries and crushed rock. This impressively opulent and very ripe grand cru finishes extremely minerally and very long, with terrific grip and ineffable building perfume.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

The 2014 Romanée St Vivant Grand Cru, matured in two-thirds new oak, has an incredibly powerful and pure bouquet that already possesses dizzying, seductive intensity. Wow. The palate has a satin-like texture, perfect acidity and filigree tannin. However, it is the purity of this wine and the shimmering tension on the finish that is totally entrancing. One of the wines of the vintage? Most certainly. Bravo Sebastien.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

The 2014 Romanée St Vivant Grand Cru, matured in two-thirds new oak, has an incredibly powerful and pure bouquet that already possesses dizzying, seductive intensity. Wow. The palate has a satin-like texture, perfect acidity and filigree tannin. However, it is the purity of this wine and the shimmering tension on the finish that is totally entrancing. One of the wines of the vintage? Most certainly. Bravo Sebastien.