ROMANEE CONTI Romanée Saint Vivant Grand cru 1999

An absolutely stunning wine, the 1999 Romanée St. Vivant is also deeply informed by vintage. Layers of flavor burst from the glass in all directions in a wine that captures the essence of Romanée St. Vivant. At times delicate and refined, while at others a wine of structure, the St. Vivant dazzles with its complexity and nuance. Clean veins of underlying minerality support the vibrant, saline finish in a breathtaking Burgundy endowed with superb depth. The first DRC wine I ever tasted was a Romanée St. Vivant, so this wine has always been a sentimental favorite. The 1999 is a stunner.

The 1999 Romanee-St-Vivant initially has its nose put out of joint by the precocious 1999 Echezeaux, but allowing the wine to unfold over 30 to 40 minutes, it shows its true breeding. Returning after ten minutes, the nose positively explodes from the glass with a sorbet-like purity – hints of wild strawberry, cassis and a little blueberry – a piercing intensity that is wondrous to behold. The palate is medium-bodied and does not have the volume of the 1999 Echezeaux, but there is superior clarity and focus, the tannins clearly fine and the finish shimmering with tension and femininity. This is just a beautiful wine that will only get better. Drink 2016-2030.