2013 Romanee-St-Vivant
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2013 Romanée-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Burgundy, France
Amongst the tapestry of Burgundy's treasured terroirs, the 2013 Romanée-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti delicately asserts itself with a poise that heralds accolades. This particular year was an intriguing challenge for Burgundian vintners; a late start to the season induced by cool, damp conditions, recovering poetically with a serene autumn, contributed to a vintage of fines renommées. It is within these finely balanced parameters that 2013 Romanée-St-Vivant found its elegant expression.
An Exercise in Balance and Precision
The 2013 harvest required exacting selection and perspicacious handling. This conscientious stewardship is evident in the bottle – a wine that renders not just flavour but the very essence of its birthright soil. The expression of fruit is modulated and pure: red cherries, wild strawberries, filling the bouquet with an almost ethereal presence. Earthier complexities emerge slowly, a testament to their petit nom – 'les terres blanches' – whispering tales of minerality and spice.
Subtleties Bestowed by Nature’s Hand
The weather patterns of 2013 bestowed a unique character upon this vintage. Its reserved power and subtle exuberance run parallel to the season's progression. On the palate, this Romanée-St-Vivant marries delicate hints of violet with a tannic structure that promises longevity. Notables speak of savoury nuances overlaid with a silken texture – grandiosity held in check by consummate grace.
For serious collectors and investors alike, this wine not only represents an exquisite sensory experience but an appreciable asset. One notes well its potential to evolve and gain intricacy over time – a suitable investment for one's cellar and future degustation.
Elegance In Every Aspect: A Vintage To Cherish and Invest
As wine critics, we continually seek those vintages that characterize their era while offering something transcendently exceptional. The 2013 Romanée-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is such an offering: crafted by nature’s variegated palette and nurtured by human expertise. Beyond its hedonistic allure, it stands as an investable indulgence for those discerning enough to recognise its potent blend of rarity, quality, and legacy wrapped into each bottle.
This remarkable exemplar from Burgundy articulates not just the story of a challenging year surmounted but enshrines that success in its very essence—indubitably setting it amongst the elite collectibles in fine wine investment portfolios.
Market price (USD)
$38,460.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
2100
Scores and tasting notes
The 2013 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on the afternoon of October 10 and then the following day, cropped at 17.5 hectoliters per hectare. The bouquet is adorable, so pure and comely, with shimmering red cherries, raspberry and orange blossom, a suggestion of cold flint imparting an enigmatic element—a Romanée-Saint-Vivant that is clearly going to bide its time. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, impressive weight and almost a surfeit of freshness. There is tension from start to finish that effortlessly disguises the weight, the penetration on the sustained finish. What a wonderful wine from the domaine. Production is 847 cases. Tasted February 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 3 March 2016