2012 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France
There is Romanée-Conti, and then there is everything else. Universally hailed as the absolute greatest Domaine on planet Earth, the historic estate has long created and continues to produce the finest Pinot Noir, as well as the most sought-after bottles for any and all collectors. Both age-worthy and able to be consumed within the first 5 years of release (or don't touch them for fifteen, warns Aubert de Villaine), DRC, its affectionate moniker, is THE centerpiece of any collection.
97 Points - Vinous
“An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same. (AG)”
97 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2012 Romanée St Vivant, incidentally served before Richebourg rather than afterwards unlike previous years, was picked on September 28 and 29 at 24 hectoliters per hectare. There is a wondrous, ethereal purity to this 2012, a little more sumptuous than I recall it from barrel, with kirsch and freshly picked strawberries. As it opens, it gains more and more sensuality. The palate is rounded, almost curvaceous in the mouth, clearly more concentrated than the 2011 with a sense of authority and purpose, a bit of daring-do on the long finish. It leaves a slightly ferrous residue on the aftertaste, completing what is a marvelous and sensual Grand Cru. 1,148 cases produced. (WK)”
95 Points - Burghound
“This is notably more elegant with its pure and exquisitely perfumed and markedly floral nose that displays a huge array of Vosne-style spice elements along with a trace of oak. There is an ultra-refined mouth feel to the equally pure, intense, detailed and lilting medium-bodied flavors that appear to possess a bit more volume than usual before culminating in a penetrating and intense finish that is also quite compact and linear at present. The underlying reserves of dry extract are undeniably deep and buffer well the firm but not hard tannic spine and overall, this is a wine of grace and harmony. It's interesting as the mouth feel is light, indeed almost delicate yet the flavor authority is remarkable; it is the epitome of what I like to describe as power without weight. (AM)”
There is Romanée-Conti, and then there is everything else. Universally hailed as the absolute greatest Domaine on planet Earth, the historic estate has long created and continues to produce the finest Pinot Noir, as well as the most sought-after bottles for any and all collectors. Both age-worthy and able to be consumed within the first 5 years of release (or don't touch them for fifteen, warns Aubert de Villaine), DRC, its affectionate moniker, is THE centerpiece of any collection.
97 Points - Vinous
“An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same. (AG)”
97 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2012 Romanée St Vivant, incidentally served before Richebourg rather than afterwards unlike previous years, was picked on September 28 and 29 at 24 hectoliters per hectare. There is a wondrous, ethereal purity to this 2012, a little more sumptuous than I recall it from barrel, with kirsch and freshly picked strawberries. As it opens, it gains more and more sensuality. The palate is rounded, almost curvaceous in the mouth, clearly more concentrated than the 2011 with a sense of authority and purpose, a bit of daring-do on the long finish. It leaves a slightly ferrous residue on the aftertaste, completing what is a marvelous and sensual Grand Cru. 1,148 cases produced. (WK)”
95 Points - Burghound
“This is notably more elegant with its pure and exquisitely perfumed and markedly floral nose that displays a huge array of Vosne-style spice elements along with a trace of oak. There is an ultra-refined mouth feel to the equally pure, intense, detailed and lilting medium-bodied flavors that appear to possess a bit more volume than usual before culminating in a penetrating and intense finish that is also quite compact and linear at present. The underlying reserves of dry extract are undeniably deep and buffer well the firm but not hard tannic spine and overall, this is a wine of grace and harmony. It's interesting as the mouth feel is light, indeed almost delicate yet the flavor authority is remarkable; it is the epitome of what I like to describe as power without weight. (AM)”
There is Romanée-Conti, and then there is everything else. Universally hailed as the absolute greatest Domaine on planet Earth, the historic estate has long created and continues to produce the finest Pinot Noir, as well as the most sought-after bottles for any and all collectors. Both age-worthy and able to be consumed within the first 5 years of release (or don't touch them for fifteen, warns Aubert de Villaine), DRC, its affectionate moniker, is THE centerpiece of any collection.
97 Points - Vinous
“An intense, almost exotic wine, the 2012 Romanée St-Vivant takes the elements that make RSV such a distinctive site and simply amplifies all of them. Dense and yet also seamless on the palate, the 2012 RSV will need considerable time to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive just the same. (AG)”
97 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2012 Romanée St Vivant, incidentally served before Richebourg rather than afterwards unlike previous years, was picked on September 28 and 29 at 24 hectoliters per hectare. There is a wondrous, ethereal purity to this 2012, a little more sumptuous than I recall it from barrel, with kirsch and freshly picked strawberries. As it opens, it gains more and more sensuality. The palate is rounded, almost curvaceous in the mouth, clearly more concentrated than the 2011 with a sense of authority and purpose, a bit of daring-do on the long finish. It leaves a slightly ferrous residue on the aftertaste, completing what is a marvelous and sensual Grand Cru. 1,148 cases produced. (WK)”
95 Points - Burghound
“This is notably more elegant with its pure and exquisitely perfumed and markedly floral nose that displays a huge array of Vosne-style spice elements along with a trace of oak. There is an ultra-refined mouth feel to the equally pure, intense, detailed and lilting medium-bodied flavors that appear to possess a bit more volume than usual before culminating in a penetrating and intense finish that is also quite compact and linear at present. The underlying reserves of dry extract are undeniably deep and buffer well the firm but not hard tannic spine and overall, this is a wine of grace and harmony. It's interesting as the mouth feel is light, indeed almost delicate yet the flavor authority is remarkable; it is the epitome of what I like to describe as power without weight. (AM)”