I thought the 1987 Romanee St.-Vivant superior to the 1986, which has a very earthy, tannic, hard texture, excellent color and length, but a persistent hardness and toughness. It may well merit a higher score in 5 more years, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more fruit. This is among the few superstars of this vintage, but the 1986 is not for drinking soon-patience is most definitely required.

Tasting note: A bricking but still ruby core. A fully mature, elegant and very perfumed and spicy nose of obvious breed mix with nicely complex, round and punchy middle weight flavors that are beginning to lean out somewhat on the moderately long finish. There are still some unresolved tannins which the acidity has the effect of firming up on the backend. This is drinking as well as it's ever going to and it would be best served with food. There is better overall balance here than in the '87 but less power as well.

A bottle poured blind by Bernard Noblet at the Domaine, having received some criticisms about the wine from the press. I am afraid to say, their doubts are well founded. The bouquet is perfectly fine: wild strawberry, tomato vine, a touch of chalk dust and granite. The palate is medium-bodied with rather coarse tannins, an undeniable vegetal streak (not a leafiness, which I can abide) with a rather hard mid-palate. Earthy and mushroomy towards the angular and inescapably hollow finish. This merely proves how much they Domaine have improved this Cru in recent years. Drink now-2012. Tasted November 2009.