Romanée Saint-Vivant

1998 Thomas-Moillard Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on October 31, 2004 #asides

From the get-go, this is a more interesting wine than the Bonnes-Mares. More of everything vs how the Bonnes-Mares started. There’s a really cracking creamy depth to the fruit (I waited for 90 minutes in a decanter) that sustains an excellent finish, the tannins are softer but still large-scale. Today I marginally prefer the peaking Bonnes-Mares, as by the last sip it outstrips this RSV – looks like an interesting match-up over the next few years – I’ll have another look in 4 or 5 years.

2001 Romanée-Conti Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on June 30, 2004 #asides

Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose shows in a more restrained way than January – a little powdery at first – slowly becoming vanilla-tinged red fruit with a shade of pepper. The palate is a model of understated power, well covered, finely grained tannins. The nose is now starting to unlock a little, still mainly red berries, but we’ve moved up a gear. A real smoothie and whilst obviously outstanding it’s not such a stand-out as the last tasting.

2001 Giroud Camille Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on June 30, 2004 #asides

Medium, medium-plus colour. Again like the Malconsorts a very cold bottle that also takes some time to come round. The nose whilst reticent starts with a little oak that slowly fades to reveal a classic, slightly floral RSV of many dimensions. Warm it in the mouth and you start to see a little action, tightly wound concentration and beautifully covered structure. This was a wine that continued to improve over a long period of time. Another wine to wait for, but it will surely be excellent.

2001 Romanée-Conti Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

By a short-head this is the darkest wine on display – though still medium, medium-plus cherry red in colour. The nose is a melange of red fruits – mainly cherry – vanilla and a nice white pepper note. Instantly obvious is the extra fat and density of fruit when compared to the previous two wines. Again the tannins are super-smooth. Much more interesting length than the Grands Échézeaux. This wine really impresses – an appreciable step-up. Given extended time in the glass the nose becomes more focused on the red fruit and shows a touch of mocha. I seem to have written the least about this wine, but it is actually the most outstanding of the six – relative to their appellations of course.

2000 Thomas Charles Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on February 29, 2004 #asides

Really deep cherry colour, just fades gently to the rim. The nose has a lovely focused griotte note which gains emphasis with time, not at all floral. Creamily fat, concentrated, and surprisingly tannic – this has a finish like a fully loaded shiraz. Good acidity and concentrated fruit that seems to be up to the job. I’m surprised how up-front this wine shows – it’s not really for drinking right now, but at least half a dozen will be finding their way to my cellar for 2010+

1997 Confuron JJ Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on October 31, 2003 #asides

Here we find the elegance of Romanée Saint-Vivant. The colour is paler than Moillard’s with a not-quite medium ruby. The nose is a little understated but shows a top-end of red fruits on a creamy, slightly vanilla base – with time a more meaty tone starts to emerge and definitely no roast fruit notes here. The palate is obviously fat with very silky tannins that you need to look for – no fireworks but a definite RSV elegance. I’d say that this is just a little subdued or, perhaps, even closed, despite the exceptional length. Very, very lovely.

1997 Moillard-Grivot Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on October 31, 2003 #asides

For around 60€ Domaine Charles Thomas produce one of the best value RSV’s that you can find. If you compare the price to some domaine’s village wines at ~50€, it’s a bit of an eye-opener. That wine was, until recently, labeled as Domaine Thomas-Moillard. Now this wine from Moillard-Grivot is not the same wine as it is made from purchased grapes for the négociant arm of the Thomas business. The colour is deep ruby, hardly any lighter at the rim. The nose at first soars with floral notes to be replaced by a deep meaty note and unusually even a trace of cedar. The fruit is black and a little roasted in character. The palate is fat, concentrated and silky smooth. The tannins are deep but silky. The length could be a little better – this is RSV after-all – but even though the fruit on the palate is also a little roasted this is super wine. Judged as RSV, this wine certainly lacks the required elegance – judged on price, even at 60€ it is very fine. Personally I’d keep this in the cellar for another 3 or 4 years

2000 Romanée-Conti Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on February 28, 2003 #asides

Cherry in shade and a deeper colour than the previous wine. The nose is more reticent, but certainly shows more complexity than the Echézeaux from a similar fruit profile i.e. red, rather than the black of the Grands Echézeaux. Shows coffee and faint vanilla in the mix too. Compared to the Grands Echézeaux, the palate starts explosively, the velvety tannin grabbing the inside of your mouth to attach the fruit. There’s nice acidity that pushes the persistent finish longer. Lovely.

1989 Thomas-Moillard Romanée Saint-Vivant

By on December 31, 2002 #asides

Mature looking but with sufficient deep colour to make the age hard to determine. The nose . . . . . chocolate cherry liqueurs(!) and really sweet, almost intoxicating. The palate, still has really good acidity and lots of furry tannin. Tons of depth to the fruit, with the finish continuing to develop for the first hour the bottle was open. Worth much more than the €58 paid – outstanding – and years of life ahead of it.

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