Less deep colour than the Romanée-St-Vivant – but marginally. The nose has a more black aspect to the fruit, subtle aspects from the stems and quite high toned. Doesn’t seem to develop in the glass to the same extent as the others, but there’s still some change with the oak spice becoming more pronounced and a little more meaty. The palate has really good depth and fat, similar to the RSV, the quality and fineness of the tannin shining through – more so than the previous wines. The finish is very long, but seems more oak than wine. Has the depth of the Grands Échézeaux but shows in a more backward way – lovely smooth coating on the teeth though. A wine that’s not all joined-up yet, oak, fruit and oak but not a ‘whole’ wine just yet.
Richebourg
2000 Romanée-Conti Richebourg
Colour is perhaps, not so dense as the Romanée Saint-Vivant, but a similar shade of cherry. Beguiling and persistent, the deep red and black cherry nose shows just a little kirsch at the top end. There’s good acidity, and forward, though controlled tannins. There’s also a richness to match the volume you experience in the mouth, but somehow on tasting, this wine seems less involving than the others; gorgeous aromatics though.
1996 Grivot Jean Richebourg
1996 Gros Anne Richebourg
Anne has a shorter cold soak, and ferments at a higher temp than Grivot. Colour is very deep. Less closed again, cherry and plum fruits. High acid, reduced tannin compared to Grivot’s. More obviously fruity palate with a slightly creamy oak finish. Full bodied, again very, very long and again – fabulous!