Romanee St Vivant 2006

The Domaine de La Romanee-Conti's 2006 Romanee-St.-Vivant charts its own mysterious path, dissimilar to that of their Grands-Echezeaux, as well as reflecting the strides in quality that have manifestly been achieved in recent years in this site, more than at any other at this domaine. Iris, buddleia, and musky narcissus-like floral perfume; ripe purple plum and blackberry; sassafras and licorice; along with smoked meat and a hoisin-like amalgam of spices and soy all waft alluringly from the glass. The tannins here are ultra-refined and there is a vintage-typical sense of levity, despite all of the dark intrigue of enveloping black fruits, forest floor, fungal, and carnal flavors that persist on the palate. Here is an uncanny alliance of the sensual and thought-provoking such as only great red Burgundy among the world's red wines can engender, and if this wine doesn't stimulate in you cravings and wonder at once, the fault is doubtless in yourself and not the glass. It seems to marry the brightness and finesse of the 2002 with the texturally richness of the (unexpectedly fine) 2000, two standouts in recent tasting of Romanee-St.-Vivant that I was privileged to attend. But there is much more depth here, and I expect that this wine's beauty will be worth pondering and savoring for at least two decades.

Score: 95

David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2029 01 December 2009

Deep red. Sexy, highly perfumed nose offers red fruits, cocoa powder and earth. Dense and sappy, showing more energy and cut today than the Grands-Echezeaux. Also conveys strong soil tones but here there's a compelling mid-palate sweetness and the tannins are quite fine. (93+ points)

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 March 2009